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We enter the Gotenba Junior High School on a Friday morning, excited to see another grade level of students. |
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The building is large, and we will get to see a lot of activity within! |
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We place our shoes in cubbies here. |
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We are greeted by signs welcoming us. We feel welcomed in every aspect of our visit here! |
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We are ushered into a meeting room for a welcoming ceremony. |
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The amount of preparation for our visit is apparent in every room! |
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We browse through school literature waiting for us at our seats while waiting for the ceremony to begin. |
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This guy was also waiting in the reception room. Hmmm.... |
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We are welcomed to Harasato Junior High by the principal. |
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Other school officials are also in attendance. |
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Jerry Scheidt speaks on behalf of the FMF teachers, and presents gifts from the group. |
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We gave several books to the school for its library. |
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Syl Williams presents a gift and greetings from her district and school. |
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Ellen Shiflet presents a letter and gift from her school. |
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We are treated with green tea and cookies while we wait to visit classes. |
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We are divided into three groups, and students come to take us to their classes. |
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The English language teacher explains the format of the lesson. Students have already been working on introductions and simple interviewing. They will ask us questions, and fill out a "bingo" card based on our responses. |
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Since we are also participating, we have to listen to the directions, also! |
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These students were grouped with me. They were great at interview skills, and I helped them with English pronunciation. |
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Two of the girls in my group made origami gifts for me! |
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Then, we were allowed to freely go through the classroom on two floors. We saw some fantastic art work. |
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In geography class, the students were preparing for an upcoming field trip to a cultural site. |
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Students working hard in math class. |
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We visited the library, and of course I'm wanting to work on the computer. People have to drag me away. We find out that this was the only computer that is hooked to Internet at this time. |
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We find the computer lab. There are 15 machines there. I kind of like the tilted CPU/Monitors. |
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Students in Home Economics prepare and serve tea ceremony for their American guests. Yummy snackies! |
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These girls have bonded with the American teachers! |
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As we move toward the conference room for lunch, we pause at a display area to admire the art work! |
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We gather up our lunches, and wait for students to take us to their home rooms to eat with them. |
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The students arranged and cleared the desks for their lunch guests. The students usually eat school lunch, but this is a special day. We get to see their lunch boxes, full of rice, sushi, and other treats. |
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Looks great! But it is twice the amount of food I would normally eat. |
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After lunch, brushing teeth seems to be a social affair! |
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In this school, like the others in Japan, students are responsible for cleaning the school. |
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These girls were in charge of the school store, open during the noon hour. They were very helpful, and tried to use their best English! |
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Eileen Shiftlet delivered the greetings speech to the PTA officers, and presented the gifts on behalf of the group. |
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Then the English teacher translated the school's brochure in English, and showed a video. |
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After hearing the outline of the school, we walked down a hallway toward club activities. This tiger looks a lot like the ADM tiger!! |
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The gymnasium was full of activity: volleyball and girls and boys basketball drills. |
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Outside, soccer practice was going on. |
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The teachers and students wish us a fond farewell. |
