Drinking Party

There was a party in the evening. Good food and even one hour karaoke singing! Obviously local students have a way better talent in this field, but every one enjoyed it very much.
Last, here is a photo of all the teachers. It was a wonderful program, and a month we will never forget!

Closing Ceremony

Now it was the very last official event of the program. Every one dress up in Yukata and attended a ceremony to receive a certification, and then, a party with a lot of feed. Every one made a speech, with many laughter and even tears.

Closing Banquet

After the Kabuki show, the entire group moved into a hotel beside Tokyo Tower and enjoyed our closing banquet. Many chose to walk to the hotel, and have a chance to see Tokyo's street in a much closer manner. The food at the party was simply amazing. It was a moment we will not forget.

Kabuki Show

Today, we traveled to the center of Tokyo and had a chance to enjoy a Kabuki show. This is a very new experience for many of us. The big theater with over 1,000 audience were deeply attracted with the traditional and dynamic performance. There was even a moment that the stage encouraged every one to take a photo and share it at the internet.

Final Presentation

This is a big day -- the day for the final presentation. Every one has spend a great deal of time to prepare the writing, and practice the speaking. Here are a few moments from it: the last minute before the event, MC in one of the four sections, and a group photo with our teachers.

Last Entry of Blog

Here comes the very last entry for each blog in the program. It was only five weeks for this small project, but obviously it has become a great way to present our thinking and discoveries. Hope many people may have a chance to visit and to read our writing!

JAPEX Visit

This was a special day. The entire group received a very kind invitation by JAPEX, to visit its head office in Tokyo, and to learn some very basic knowledge about Japan's oil industry as well as Japanese company environment. Together, we have learned so many things. Among others, there was one statement hit many of us -- we were told clearly that in this very special field, the distance between Canada and Japan actually was most closed. This is a totally new and unexpected fact. Thank you, JAPEX, for hosting our visit!
JAPEX

Orientation for Leaving the Dorm

It is already the time to discuss about details on getting back home! There was an one-hour orientation this afternoon, and every one had the details on ways to go to the airport, as well as expectations of the cleaning before the leave.
There is an extra photo here, a typical lunch scene from a few days ago...

School Visit

This is another unforgettable afternoon. The entire group had a chance to visit an elementary school, and received a warm welcome. We first shared a school meal with those students, joined their daily activity of cleaning classrooms, and then enjoyed a culture presentation formed by many small sections. Obviously it took an enormous amount of time to prepare such great presentations for all of us.

Third Blog Entry in Japan

We had another set of fine writing on our blogs. More and more rich culture and social facts are discovered and discussed, many with wonderful pictures.

GSP Japan Culture

On Friday, GSP on Japanese culture from University of Calgary arrived at the same dormitory. The instructor of that program, Sharp-sensei is writing a blog on their daily activities. A link has been added to the right section. Please take a look!

GSP Japan Culture

Home Vist, day 2

Home Visit is on its second evening. So much information was shared and discussed at the Line Group. Here are a few photos from there, obviously on selected topics.

Home Visit

This weekend all will leave the dorm., and each finds and stays in a host family for two nights. Needless to say, it is a nervous experience. But surely it is valuable, unique and will not be forgotten.

Odaiba

It took us almost 2 hours to get there. The entire group enjoyed sightseeing, and then walked to a popular hot spring. For quite a few, this was the very first of such an experience, and surely it provided an unforgettable memory.

Open-air Folk House Museum

It was a hot day. But the Museum was wonderful. It provided many beautiful moment that was more than many expected.
日本民家園

Okonomiyaki

Classes divided into two groups on Monday and Tuesday, and each had a big lesson to learn how to cook a dish of okonomiyaki. Wish this practice will be repeated after returning home!

Second Blog Entry in Japan

One more week past. It is simply amazing to see how many activities all have covered. At the meantime, while came to the deadline on Sunday, all blogs have been updated. One more set of careful observation and wonderful writing!

Kamakura Trip

Saturday was a trip to Kamakura. Much bigger number of local students came to meet us, formed more than ten groups, and each took a different rout at the famous site. The instructor stayed home, and here are a few from the shared album at our Line group.

Sushi Party

There was an short orientation in the afternoon, on the coming home visit next weekend. Every one found out details about the host family. In the evening, we had a huge sushi party -- it is simply amazing, such delicious dishes in a reasonable price! Many surely consumed more than their own average.

A Normal Class Day

Class starts at 9:00 am every day. This is the corner of the classrooms. A few run into the class at the very last minute. There is no schedule in the afternoon today, so quite a few visited popular places in the city. Meantime, sensei had a walk near the campus, and found a nice photo spot -- can you find our dorm in the picture?

Calligraphy Class

For most of us, this was the second time to take a similar practice after enrolling into this program. Many were able to demonstrate that we are better prepared. Six young teachers gave us a great help!

Class Placement

Two main events took place today: in the morning, there was a long placement test; in the afternoon, Opening Ceremony and Welcome Party. Many local students came to the Party, and from our group, many speechs had a good personal touch. By the late afternoon, every one found the class which officially starts tomorrow morning.

First Impression Presented at Blog

Blog writing is due on every Sunday. This is the very first week in Japan. Although many had to adjust quite some their original plan and scope, nonetheless, all entries well reflect everyone's fresh and keen sight to the daily life in Japan.

Orientation

Saturday was a raining day. It started with a formal meeting. Everyone received a student card and other documents for the coming days. Near the noon time, a similar number of local students came and took all of us in groups. In the evening, we had the very first party, and had a very conversation.

Meiji Shrine, Skytree

We have completed our first highlight in Tokyo. All the schedules were carried out smoothly, without any unexpected interruption. The last full-group photo were at the very top of Skytree, around 3:00 pm. To a few, that was still far to the end of the long day...

Arrived!

We have arrived! Every one had a high spirit during the long bus trip  to the campus, and we settled into a simple snack around 6:30 pm, Tokyo time.

Leave for Japan!

We are heading the boarding -- Tokyo, here we come!

Five Blogs

On May 7th, Sunday, five blogs serves as the main research project for this course work have been published by five groups. On its first entry, each blog briefly introduced the group members and described its working plan while in Japan. Here are two sections from "A Piece of Cake", an example of the writing achievement.

Last Class at the Compus

By now, all five Blogs became online. At the first hour, each group was requested to present some highlights of their work, and then, read and further provide critical suggestions to one other group's work. At the second half, various details of trip were confirmed. We will meet together at the airport in two day

Blog Presentation

On 5th, the topic of the instructor's lecture was the daily life in Japan. Thereafter, each group had a 10-min presentation on their blogs. Now we have five key words: Cafe, Missing, Tech., Street and Students.

One More Week to Go

At the very last week until the departure, it is scheduled three 150-min classes. On 4th, the instructor gave a lecture on Senshu University. During the break, entire class walked across the campus and took a few photos.

Highlight of Internationalization

Our program is mentioned at the newly launched Faculty of Arts Strategic Plan 2017-22: "Energizing Arts". Well done, Alvin!
Energizing Arts

Class in March

We had the third class. A rather detailed schedule during the stay in Japan was announced. Further more, we formed five groups, and each had a rather intensive discussion on the theme they are going to work during the trip. A final decision will be reached in the next class in May.

Scroll Met Comics

The very last lecture of the Japanese Culture Series was organized on March 27th. A poster on this event was forwarded to many organizations and social groups. In addition to students, quite a few people from outside of the School or even the University came to join us.
Scroll met Comics

Japanese Tea and Sweets

The fourth class was about Japanese tea ceremony. We were rather surprised with the intensive preparation by the instructor Kodama-sensei. We all enjoyed a bow of real tea and a small delicious sweet. Although the bitter taste of the tea turned out to be a little challenge to a few students.
Japanese Tea and Sweets

Think Ink

The third class is about Japanese calligraphy. We know that there will be a similar class while we are in Senshu University, and we want to prepare us well!
Think Ink 4

What’s Up in Japan

We had the second culture class. Shoko was one of the instructor! Two days later, there was a farewell party for Shoko, Saya and Hyunjung, Chris presented a card to each of them on behalf of all of us.
What’s Up in Japan?

Second Class

The group had its second class. This time, it was organized by the Study Abroad office, and a large amount of useful information was delivered. During the break, three students from the Senshu University visited us and brought a good surprise. The class had its very first group photo!

Playing Japan

Japanese Culture Series 2017 had its first lecture. Near 80 audience attended and enjoyed Dr. Whaley's lecture, "Playing Japan".
Japanese Culture Series 2017 – Playing Japan

First Aid

The instructor has to take a training for First Aid. After an intensive learning for a few days, plus one-day class and a few exams, this task has been completed!

First Class

We had our first class. After a brief self introduction, everyone engaged into an rather intensive task for completing registration documents provided by Senshu University. It includes two forms and a length placement test.