Back from Japan Trip

If you ask me to describe the trip with one word, I would say, “sorry, it’s too good to be defined with just words”. Why? I was like “woah-ing” every single second of my life there. Everything was just something I did not expect at all. Let me tell you how I reached up to that conclusion.

Take the weather there for an example, I thought I could tolerate their weather at first. I mean, when I look outside to Japan from the inside of the airport, I could see the scorching sun shining really strongly on the ground; stronger than the burning heat in Singapore. So, I took off my sweater and stepped out of the airport. My first reaction then was to frantically grab my sweater and wore it. It’s just like someone “boo-ing” you while your unprepared. Totally amazing.

I am not really fond of sour and bitter tastes much and since that is what made up of Japan cuisine. I kind of not enjoy it to the fullest. Still, I was “woah-ing” then when I saw my first Japan meal. They used quite a number of bowls and plates for food- something that cannot be seen in Singapore. The food that I adore there are their soy sauce and rice; the combination is so mouth-watering that no other foods are required to appetize me then. BUT, it’s polite to finish the meal you were given with, so I tried to eat everything there. Splendid.

On the first day of the trip, we visited JAXA- a place where they exhibits about things Japan does in the outer-space. I learnt quite a number of things; how they lead their lifestyle, what do they eat etc. Since I am not really the IT type of person, I didn’t really find this place to be interesting, but still, it did caught my attention for awhile then. Great.

After that, we visited Aquamarine Fukushima- a place that could be said to be a larger version of the underwater world. The number of fishes there are overwhelmingly huge and the variety of fishes there are incomparable with the underwater world. They show-cased the fishes in tanks that are specially designed to act like their natural habitats, they also had a few rare breeds that cannot be found in Singapore; walrus etc. Simply intriguing.

On the very next day, we went for agriculture and school experience at Minami Aizu. I was actually disgusted by the idea of “argricultural farming” at first. I used to have this experience of “argricultural farming” before where I have to take off my shoes, pull my pants up and start to plant seeds into the wet soil; believe me, the experience then, was rather unpleasant. But, the farming we did during the Japan trip was way different from what I had expected. It was really fun except for the spider webs that caught my face and we just had to pluck the tomatoes from the trees and that’s all. Simple yet enriching, fabulous.

After that, we were separated into groups and went to different farmers’ house in our respective group to stay in for one night. I learnt quite a number of Japan cultures, how they live, eat. I was really elated when I first heard of this- it’s the once in a lifetime opportunity for me as a student, so I am sure to treasure and cherish the time when I was staying. We were all greeted with a warm welcome by our “parents of the day” and were given a feast as soon as we went to their house in the evening. It somehow blend me in with the family which gives this trip a few points extra.
We went for a Tea Ceremony on the third day which I would say rather tedious as we have to kneel down for a long duration of time. Nevertheless, the whole ceremony was enjoyable as we get to witness with our very own eyes the preparation of the tea by a tea master; who did it elegantly and systematically. After the tea ceremony, we went to visit a ancient garden right outside of the room where we had our ceremony which was stunningly beautiful. Fascinating.

After that, we went to the craft center, where we get to witness how dolls and tops(spin-ing thingy) were made. The stimulating thing about them was that they showed no sign of hesitations while they crafted the dolls; they just do it in the same way as how we move- naturally. Each of the dolls display in the shop was crafted professionally without any hints of damages and errors. The one who made the tops was like show-casing his skills then, and even gave a few tops for free!

On the very next day, we had our fishing experience near the coast of the country. Where we were once again, separated into groups and board our respective boats. We pulled up nets and found out that we caught two huge salmons and that we feed the seagulls with prawn crackers soon after. We also have a few lucky ones who gets to try driving the boat which was really thrilling and exciting.

After that, we visited Tokiwagi High School for a school exchange programme. I made a few friends there. We were gesticulating as we converse because we don’t really have wide vocabulary for both English and Japanese and found out that they also listen to pop singers like Avril Lavigne, which totally surprised me to a HUGE extent. Anyway, I was in really high spirits that day, never did I know, speaking in broken languages with actions could be that fun. Positively enjoyable.

On the fifth day, we visited Yoshinari Junior High School and attended quite a number of their lessons. They were teaching about patterns then. It was kind of embarrassing since I raise up my hand and got my answer wrong, but still, everyone makes mistakes and I believe I should be excused with that saying. The way they teach patterns were kind of similar compared to Singapore’s in the sense that pictures and tables were given and they explained after we tackled the question ourselves. They were different in the sense in their methods of solving a problem as well as their presentations.

We also had music lessons to play a Japanese-ish Gu Zhen. Where we learnt to play a popular Japanese song: Sakura. We picked up the song rather quickly and was told that they were impressed with our performances. Somehow I believe that it was not that we are good in music and that we pick up early, it’s just that the score we were given and asked to play were just some simple rhythms. Before we end, we played the song and went to their auditorium for a dance performance.

It was rather lively, especially when they shouts after the music. Also, It was an excellent performance as none of the dancers showed hesitations, all of them were brimmed with confidence and they dance to the fullest extent. Which showed how passionate and committed they were- two good points to learn from them.

On the sixth day, we visited the Asakusa Temple which streets were filled with shops and people- something that is like orchid road in the afternoons. The things were relatively cheaper than in shopping malls and souvenirs which attracted me to buy more than what I had planned for myself. Which should be a positive reaction, I think.

Compared to the Singaporeans, I believe that the Japanese are ten folds politer. They would even greet you a “good morning” with a smile even if you were strangers to them; something that would deem to be a miracle if Singaporeans does that.

Also, the Japanese are living and working their life to the fullest. From all of the Japanese I had met, from our tour guide, to the students of the schools, to the bus driver. Each and everyone of them were trying their very best, in their small little ways to make the trip pleasant and memorial for us. And I believe that, they don’t do it just for the money, especially our tour guide, yoko-san. She really tried her best, I always saw her walking towards a quieter corner of the place and discuss things over a phone while the rest were having fun. There’s no need to eavesdrop to know what she’s discussing about- it’s rather obvious isn’t it? Heart-warming.

Okay, try form all the words used to describe the various parts of the trip into one word; amazing, splendid, intriguing, fabulous, fascinating, thrilling, exciting, enjoyable, heart-warming. I don’t even think perfect should be the resulting word, and thus my reason of saying this trip too good to even be described.

-Oh well, whoever went for the Japan trip would know i am lazy, why? Ask them.