Tama is a city located very close to Tokyo, so, World Campus – Japan could not go to a city close to one of the most populated cities in the world and not visit it. The university students we met on the fist day in Tama, very nicely accepted to take us on a really cool tour of Tokyo. They took us everywhere from shopping at Shibuya Station, one of the biggest train stations in Japan to Tsukiji, the biggest fish market in the world.

Nothing like getting a tour from the locals, they know those places where as a tourist you never get to see. That’s how we do tourism in World Campus – Japan. Pretty unique!

After a super nice morning at the University of Kokushikan we went back to our usual meeting place in Central Tama. When we entered the room, it was filled with local people, all different kinds of food and flags. It was so nice and we felt so welcomed.

The minute we entered the room, people started talking to us in english, pretty good english in fact, trying to know more about us and our specific countries.

Some of them, had already been to my country, Canada, so we could talk about it and the connection was immediate. After the conversation started we began to eat all the amazing food there was around on different tables. There were a bunch of very traditional sweets and other japanese dishes like Dango (Sweet Rice Cake) sushi rolls and fried tofu. Everything was so delicious, I wish I had more space in my belly 🙂

After the eating part ended, the local community members had prepared some traditional japanese games and cultural activities for us. We could try on the summer kimonos (Yukatas) and take pictures with our friends from World Campus – Japan.

The funniest activity of all was the Ninin Baori, where a person had to feed another person but without seeing anything, actually seating behind them. It was messy, delicious and crazy funny.

We also experienced a Tea Ceremony where we drank japanese tea, and ate japanese sweets. Played Japanese card and chess games and also Go (Chinese Game) all this with very skilled people, so no much hope for winning the games. It was so much fun and so different than the games we play in my country.

The afternoon finished with everyone dancing a traditional festival dance around the room. We learned so much in a very short time but it was so nice… I should never forget.

(Eve Marmen – Canada)

The paramedic program at the university of Kokushikan, university well known for its sports activities, is a very intense program with many great teachers and very committed students. We visited the university and met with about 20 paramedic students from different levels of their education.

That morning we learned about how to give CPR to a person which was a lot of fun, we got to see inside an ambulance and even play a little bit with the equipment. It was a good morning to start with but the best part came after the CPR training when we had time to discuss about their reason to become paramedic, also their interest and daily life routine. This last one includes very much work and studying and very little sleep, not much exercise and lots of junk food. No wonder why the life expectancy for paramedics in Japan is the shortest of all careers.

To continue with the conversation, we did an activity where we asked questions and the people there had to place themselves around the room according to their answer. Some of the questions were, would you move to another country? do you like the place where you live? would you marry someone from another culture or religion? do you believe in marriage? and the last question was, do you believe the world will be a better place in ten years?

It definitely helped us understand the values of the Japanese young generation and the differences & similarities we have as people.

Shishi Mai or Lion Dance. Awesome way to start session four of World Campus – Japan in Tama City. A welcome from the LOC (Local Organizing Committee) with a Shishi Mai Dance. Tama City is located very close to Tokyo as well as Toride but on the west side of it.

The Lion Dance involves a person dressed as a lion with a lion head and all, accompanied by music played live. The group of performers jump around, do a few steps but the best thing of all… the lion pretends to eat your head at times. He walks through the audience and “Eats” people’s heads as he pleases. It is actually a sign of good luck or a wish for good luck if the lion “eats” your head which it happened to many of us.

That night we also met some of the amazing university students that were going to spend part of the week with us. Not only to hang out but to take us on a really cool Metropolitan tour of Tokyo. (Next post)

Great beginning for Tama!