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Hello, everyone!

Well, if I am to tell you about what I've done recently, that might take a while! Within just a week, I've gone to Shiroi Koibito Park, Hokkaido Shrine, an International Festival, a Cat Cafe, Moerenuma Park, a kindergarden, and an elementary school! Lots of incredibly fun things, as well as wonderful opportunities! To narrow down my favorites, I would say Hokkaido Shrine and the kindergarden/elementary school visits were the most exciting!

The first time I went to Hokkaido Shrine was during a festival. There were many people, many food and snack stands, and there were stages and portable shrines taking up much space. I truly enjoyed my time snacking and watching reenactments of old Shinto stories. This recent visit, however, felt much more exhilarating. I was able to calmly enter the area, while taking in my surroundings. The silence was peaceful, as it made me think of the historical and spiritual energy within the enclosed area. The people I saw that day were present for the sake of respecting the gods or their ancestors, which I could appreciate. Whether or not one is religious, I've learned that it is the sincerity, honestly, love, and respect within oneself that preserves the beauty within a shrine or temple. I was able to experience that at Hokkaido Shrine, and I absolutely loved it.

Next are my visits to a kindergarden and an elementary school. In Japan, kindergarden is separate from elementary school. It is also not mandatory for children. (In America, elementary school starts with K, so a child must attend.) Those who attend are either sent by parents who hope to provide an earlier start to their education and development, or the kindergarden becomes a daycare, filled with positive reinforcement. The one I visited was having an English day for their kids. I can be a little shy amongst other people, but with children, they just find ways to have fun with you, so I was immediately included in their activities. Running, singing, picking potatoes, cooking, etc - so many things, so much for them to learn, but presented in a fun way! Surprisingly, the children's English was quite good! Of course, I chose to speak what little Japanese I could with them. I must say, children that age are absolutely precious. They are full of hidden ambition and are always ready to learn something new and exciting. As a mature adult, I helped them, guided them, played with them, and taught them. My heart was smiling non-stop that day! I love children's innocence, but I love being able to help a child grow even more. The same can be said for the elementary school, where I met two different classes and introduced basic English through fun activities and songs. I absolutely enjoyed myself! My cheeks were hurting from grinning!

I am a quiet person. I prefer contemplating rather than speaking jibber-jabber. My time at the shrine was perfect for getting my thoughts organized and in-tune with my soul. Stress always needs to be resolved, not forced away - the quiet, spiritual shrine was a great way to relax and lift my spirits. With that heavy weight lifted, being with the young children brought out my cheerful and social personality, energizing my spirit once again, which also allowed me to create a fun-filled time for the students. I recommend this for people like me!

By the way, autumn is finally here! Do you ever smell the air or have a feeling come over you that reminds you of a season, holiday, or past occasion? Right now, the chilly weather, slight wind, and moist smell in the air makes me think of Halloween! I feel a little nostalgic, ready for Halloween decorations and talk about costumes, candy, and parties. Fall is my favorite season, beautiful colors and cozy weather. What are your thoughts?

I hope we can chat about a lot in the cafe! I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone!

Cynda (USA)

by chitchatcafe | 2012-09-26 18:30 | 札幌 英会話 サークル

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