Amazing trip will stay with all of us
By Amy Oliveri, Year 11, St Monica’s College
OVER the winter school holidays, a group of four teachers and 18 students from St Monica’s College went to Japan in search of a cultural experience never to be forgotten.
The tour spanned 14 days, during which we visited Tokyo and its surrounds, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka.
Our adventure was off to a flying start with a day tour through Kamakura accompanied by students and teachers from St Monica’s sister school, Takagi Gakuen.
This was such a valuable experience and eased students into the tour by allowing us to be immersed in the Japanese language and culture without the pressure of talking to complete strangers. The shift from an Australian way of life to a Japanese one took us a little while to adjust.
However, it was a change that was welcomed and embraced by all members of our group. This ready-foranything mentality was one that was sustained throughout the two-week tour and was especially present during our more traditional activities.
St Monica’s students and teachers took part in a kimono dressing in which traditional garments – which include far more layers of clothing than it appears – and make-up was applied resembling that of a geisha (or geiko-san as they are known in the Kyoto area).
This gave students a small but important insight into an iconic Japanese practice.
We were also fortunate enough to be entertained by a maiko (geisha in-training), watching her perform a dance, and participate in a tea ceremony and some oldfashioned games.
This amazing trip was an experience that was enjoyable but at times very sobering.
What little time we had in Hiroshima was spent trying to comprehend the colossal effect that the atomic bomb of 1945 had on the city.
Each member of the group folded origami cranes to place at the Peace Park Memorial, in line with the tradition brought about by a young girl, Sadako Sasaki, who was taken by leukaemia in the aftermath of the A-Bomb. Today, the paper crane is a symbol of peace and thousands of paper cranes line the Peace Park and Sadako’s memorial, yearning for a future with “No More Hiroshimas”.
The trip showed us how truly beautiful Japan is, and to travel during the cherry blossom season was a blessing. I am honoured to have been able to share this experience and gain knowledge and understanding of such an old and different culture.
I look forward to the evergrowing opportunities we have and will receive in pursuit of a second language.
After all, the limits of our language are the limits of our world.