Day 10

We arrived at Gojo High School at 8:30 with our host students, feeling nervous and excited. We are tired because most students go to bed much later than Australian students because they are very hard workers. Students travel to school by car, bus, bike, scooter and walking is very popular. We made our way to the shoe lockers / boxes and changed our outside shoes for inside shoes. The school is very neat and clean. Our host students took us to our special Girton Staff Room. The host students then left for assembly. The Girton students then attended a brief meeting for the protocols and speeches which would be made at the welcome assembly.

The assembly was held in the gym. We sat on stage with Mrs. MacCulloch and Mr. Rankin. The Gojo students were in class order with girls at the back and the boys at the front. Speeches were made by the Principal, Mr. Horiuchi, and Mr. Morikawa and Mr. Matsuda. Mrs. MacCulloch`s speech was translated by Mitchell Barker, and he did an excellent job. You can see him on the Gojo Homepage. Caleb`s speech was translated by Courtney Stewart, and both of them did Girton proud.

Gifts were presented to Gojo High School by Mrs. MacCulloch and Gojo High School presented bouquets in return. A welcome face in the assembly was Chelsea Mullens, a Girton student on a year exchange to Gojo High School. She remains as high spirited and as cheerful as always.

After assembly we went to classes, some with our host students, some not. Most classes were difficult to understand, but some were not. There are six periods of teaching every day, but some students in special advanced classes have seven. Periods run for 45 mintutes each and at 12:45 we have 45 minutes for lunch. Our host mothers all appear to have spent many hours preparing the most beautiful lunches for us to enjoy. Most of us are having to learn the `I am full` sentence in Japanese, as they take great delight on feeding us, especially after a third helping of curry (Matt Campbell`s family).

Gojo High School finishes at 3:30. After the final class for the day, the students have home room, then they clean and tidy their rooms or an assigned area of the school. Every student has an assigned job.

Club activities can then take place, before or after school and even on weekends, depending on the activity. Many students do not finish their school day until 6:00pm. The Japanese school day is a long one, but enjoyable to experience.

By: Madeline Hellsten

Official Group Photograph

More Photos to come