Final photo as the group prepares to board the plane all agreeing they had a fantastic time.
Mrs Pawsey would like to send a huge thank you and congratulations to Mrs Aitchison & Ms Hill for their superb organisation of the trip.  Ms Hill skillfully navigated the group through the many platforms of many train stations, subways, tram stops, and organised their tickets - not an easy job with a complicated organisational structure!
Finally a huge thank you from the staff for their touring group.  A group of girls who were a credit to their parents, their school and themselves and never let the staff down.

Farewell to Host Sisters.

Final day in Hachinohe

Mrs Pawsey and Ms Hill catching up with Hachinohe student Hannah who visited St Ursula's College Toowoomba in August.

Mrs Pawsey and Ms Hill were taken on a canoeing and mountain adventure by their Japanese Hosts over the weekend!
Mrs Pawsey was looking forward to hearing the happy tales about the girls weekend when they met at school for their last morning before travelling back to Tokyo and onto the airport and home.  The staff have had a wonderful time with these outstanding young women.  Their co-operation, understanding and good work as a team have made everything much easier for the staff.

St Angela - in the foyer of the school

HACHINOHE
Second day at the school and although the girls arrived a little weary, they are all happy and looking forward to a varied schedule for the day.

Nikita and Sarah enjoy a game of basketball.

Nikita enjoys learning more about Japanese cooking from St Ursula's  Hachinohe students.  On the menu today - pancakes with a twist!

The girls enjoyed a music class practicing a song reflecting on the impact of the earthquake on the people and communities of Japan .  A very moving experience.

Ruby learns more about the fine art of calligraphy.

The girls then moved on to an introduction to the martial art of Kendo.

The Hachinohe teachers join the group for a final photo.  The girls now look forward to a weekend with host families.  For a few girls a morning at school - a new experience of Saturday school.

Principal Mr Satamura appeared happy with our gift of an indigenous painting for the school.

All the girls arrived at school happy and eager to share their experiences of their first night of  home stay.
Clearly relationships had been built with home stay sisters and the girls were looked after very well at both home and school.
Lunch provided the next excitement with the girls delighted with the wonderful food prepared for them - rice balls with a panda face made with sea weed.  It was a big hit.

Home stay sisters.

Getting ready for the day.

The girls turn to entertain.

Ruby presents her speech on behalf of the group.  This was followed by a brief speech by each of the girls sharing a little about themselves and their hopes and dreams.  The girls had put much time and thought into these speeches and all were different and well received by the assembled students.  Mrs Pawsey and staff were all very proud of the girls.

HACHINOHE
15 Nervous girls disembarked from the train to be greeted like rock stars.  Warm greetings from new and old friends.  The girls enjoyed their first night in home stay.

Tsunami.
This shows the height of the water that hit the foreshore of Hachinohe as the Tsunami swept in.  Luckily all had plenty of warning and only two residents died.

Unbeknown to the group they were sitting next to celebrity commentators including an ex Sumo wrestler.  As they watched a long line of people appear and crawl their way in front of the group towards the commentators they knew something was happening and of course the girls took a few pictures.

A total change of pace as the group spent the afternoon watching a Sumo wrestling competition at their main stadium.  The girls really got into the spirit of the competition attempting to predict the winner.

The girls enjoying the Magic Show at Kabuki Theatre.

A Magician.

After surviving a very hot day the group enjoyed the opportunity for some indoor sightseeing.  A most informative and interactive look at Tokyo in times gone by.

Kabuki Theatre at Edo Museum

Saloni & Maddyson at Toshogu Shrine