Monthly Archives: 8月 2012

訪問地, 地域学習, ホストファミリー, 茨城県取手市

Host family day at Disneyland!

Date of activity: August 5th

Today was hostfamily day and we (Tiina and Iris) went with our host brother and host father to Disneyland! It was the first time to go to Disneyland for both of us, so we were really excited. We had to wake up at 6am, because we wanted to be there when the park opened at 8am. We were so happy when we were inside the park and we felt like we were 6 years old again.

Hostfamily day at Disneyland


Because it was sunday and summer holiday it was very crowded. For every ride we had to wait a long time, but we still did a lot of things and the waiting was totally worth it! It was so awesome, we had a great time! You’re never too old for Disneyland!

In the evening, before we went home, we went with our host brother to a nightclub. Although we were really tired, we still had the energy to dance! When we got home, we were even more tired, but we had an awesome day!!

(Tiina – Finland and Iris – The Netherlands)

訪問地, 地域学習, ホストファミリー, 東京都多摩市, 茨城県取手市

Travel day from Tama city to Toride city

Date of activity: August 4th

Time has passed so fast. Today is the travel day.

Thanks to the Tama LOC, host families, students and people who helped our program, we made a really great relationship. The final day is always sad for me, because our host families were really kind and helpful, so it feels like they have become our second family.

Thank you Tama, I will be back near future!!!!!!

After Tama, we went to a huge outlet for lunch and free time. It was really hot today, so entering shops with air conditioners made me happy. Even so I spent most of the time outside.


Finally the bus arrived at Toride City. This is the second time to visit this city, and last time was 4 years ago. However the LOC still remembered me, yeah!!!!!! I was a little bit tired, but they swept away my tiredness in a matter of seconds.


In the host family matching I was matched with a sweet grandmother who is 83years old. She is really energetic and talked about a lot of things so far, such as world war, her physical condition, family, Japan, etc.

Starting today, I’m going to live with her. I’m so excited to spend time with her. It is gonna be fun!!!!!

(Rie Hayase, Japan)

訪問地, 地域学習, 東京都多摩市

Kodomo Event and Arigato Event Day!

Date of Activity: August 3rd

Today, we had “Kodomo event” and spent a really good time with about 100 kids from Tama city. 27 people from 12 countries made our own booth and the kids traveled around the world!!! When kids came to our country, we had to teach them 3 words, “hello”, “thank you”, and “goodbye” in some different languages. Some languages were really hard to pronunce for them, but all the kids were really interested in other countries and their cultures. After that, we played some games together! It was so much fun!

In the evening, we had our first Arigato event in this session!


Actually, we didn’t have enough time to practice for that, but we really enjoyed this event. Thanks for everything Tama people! Arigato!

(Maki Honda, Japan)

訪問地, 地域学習, 東京都多摩市

Touring around Tokyo with University Students!

Date of Activity: August 1st


Today the World Campus Japan members and a bunch of University students split into seven groups and explored different parts of Tokyo. Two groups went to Asakusa to see the Senso-ji – a huge, red temple where you can experience Buddhism in Japan. Afterwards, one group went to Sky Tree town and explored, and one explored traditional stores nearby.


Another group went to the electric Akihabara. The place was filled with anime and manga stores. And terribly cute maids! Speaking of which, apparently Ikebukuro is the new, upcoming Akihabara, and one of the groups went there. In Ikebukuro there were also a lot of manga stores, in addition to a kind of food theme park. The group also went to a traditional Japanese garden.


Some people travelled to Shibuya and Harajuku, two very popular and famous areas in Tokyo. They visited the Meiji shrine and saw the huge torii – the gate that symbolizes entering a holy place. Furthermore, they got to see an aspect of the modern Japan: Unique fashion.


The second last group went to Ueno. They had lunch in the park there, and they also went shopping, and since they had some time, they went to Akihabara as well. The last group went to the Diet Building and the garden close to the Imperial Palace. It was very educational.

訪問地, 地域学習, 東京都多摩市

Cultural party

Date of Activity: July 31st


In the Pantheon Tama there would be a potluck party for us. It was organized by a local group of ‘older’ people who are learning languages. When we came in, it was like we were celebrities. There were a lot of people, and we of world campus had to walk through them in a row and received a big applause. After the formalities the party started. There were 4 tables full of all sorts of delicious Japanese food. In the beginning I was uncertain how I would start to communicate with people of the local group, but that wasn’t necessary. Everywhere where you just stood, people would come to you and start a conversation and you had to struggle you out of it to be able to eat, which was fun.


When every tummy was full, the group organized activities to get to know the Japanese cultural side. The first thing I tried was the Soroban (abacus). This was so much fun, to get to learn how to use such an old and useful instrument and how ingenious people where to get up with such a device. After this I got dressed up in a Yukata. Then I got to do calligraphy. We also played a Japanese sumo game; you have boxes of different sizes, with on top a circle and two sumo players of paper, and you tap on the sides to throw of the opponents sumo player. Basically you smash on the box and with that you’ll see who the winner is. Then I experienced how to create tea correctly for a tea ceremony. And I finished with writing a wish on a paper and hang it in a tree. So it was a fun, yummy and educational day with a lot of nice people.