Occasion: Summer Holiday International English Village
(Organised by Hokkaido University Faculty of Education)
When: August 20-21, 2011
Time: 7am (Day 1) to 3pm (Day 2)
Venue: Bikuni Beach, Shakotan
As an international student in Hokkaido University, one will never get bored studying here as there are plenty of interesting and cultural programs offered by the university to gather both the international students and locals here for fun and exciting activities. Just this weekend, I am privileged to go for a summer beach holiday with the local elementary school kids from Sapporo and Bikuni. To be frank with you, I am not one that is comfortable with children especially a bus FULL of all these little monsters!! Even more intimidating, these lil monsters are all the time throwing questions at you in their rapid Japanese!! I was more looking forward to the snorkeling activity stated in the trip itinerary. I really miss our gorgeous beaches back in Malaysia. BUT I was proven wrong by the end of the trip!!!! My highlight of the trip was actually the wonderful moment spent with these children (: *super hearts them all*
Had less than 2 hours of sleep the night before the trip and it was amazing that i didn't wake up late and miss the bus ride. LOL. Took my car motion sickness pill and was knocked out the entire 2 hours journey.
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| Check out the refreshing scenery out of city (: Just looking at the water, I want to jump in and swim away |
Upon arrival, we were briefed on the activities and itinerary of the day. Then, we changed to our swim wear and head out to the beach (: Woot woot!!
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| Happy to be embracing the summer beach breeze (: |
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| Obligatory pose for the camera |
Each of the international students were assigned to children who we grouped together to form a 'Buddy' system. I have 2 of the cutest and mischievous buddies ever!!! Both of them came over to ask me to be their 'Buddy' just right after the facilitator yelled "START"... so i have to admit.. i am very flattered by the invitation of these 2 'lil monsters' (:
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| Posing with my buddies: Saki-chan and Zena-chan (: |
So once at the beach, we put on our wet suits and snorkel away looking for fugu (blowfish)!! I was acting just as excited as the kids i tell ya!! hahahahaha... and YES!! We did spot so many fugu in the clear water... it was AWESOME to the max!! (:
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| Buddies picture wearing our wet suit after the snorkeling session |
FYI, the wet suit was so hard to put on!! Oh My... i think i lost almost 1000 calories just putting them on.. and another 2000 calories helping the kids putting on theirs... I almost died from exhaustion..
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| Of course... the adults have a little fun of their own as well.. hehe |
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| I can't say it is comparable to the beaches back home but it is still beautiful enough for me (: |
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| Another 2 of my favorite kids... these 2 'belongs' to my friend... they are super sweet to the max!! |
We also had a good laugh burying my fren with sand... especially the kids were squealing in delight doing it.. hahahaha... their laughter were so contagious.. they can make you feel all warm and happy.. (:
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| Thank you, Gie for offering to be the victim LOL |
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| Kids and adults all teaming up to bury her under.. |
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| the end results.. LOL |
I even brought along my シャボン玉 along so the kids and I can have a little fun blowing bubbly loves all along the shore of Bikuni beach (:
As the saying goes.. "Sharing is Caring"... so let's spread some bubbly love to the locals in Bikuni (:
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| Super warm feelings looking at them amusing themselves with the love bubbles (: |
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| Even the other kids joined in and the boys were busy bursting the girls' bubbles .. LOL *pun intended* hehe |
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| Wonderful skyline of this little beach town |
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| At the end of snorkeling session, we all gathered back at the community centre and does many other activities with the children |
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| Here's me helping the kids work on the Welcome Board. It was a real coincidence that we all wore purple too.. hehe |
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| The kids also busy taking pictures of us with their mobile phones We felt like a celebrity getting paparazzi-ed LOL |
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| Super cute Misaki-chan here is super smart and beautiful. She has the most gorgeous eyes i've ever seen and she was drawing a picture of moi right here (: |
On Day 2, the children had to attend the life saving courses and the adults are allowed to roam freely around the area.
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| Me and the board showing the co-organiser of the life saving course of this program |
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| The giant 'buddies' of this 'English Village' program.. |
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| Strolling along the beach shore area |
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| Fishing boats around the port arena |
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| The lights hanging on top of the boats are used to attract squid and cuttlefishes |
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| Summer love for the beach (: |
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| Group photo of the 'English Village' participants |
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| bringing home with me wonderful memories.. (: |
I went to Bikuni, Shakotan with a different expectation, and i left there gaining more than what i was expecting... Thank you to the young innocence of these children... I love this feeling (:
"While we try to teach our children all about life, Our children teach us what life is all about." ~Angela Schwindt~
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