More Exchange Programme entries!
Sigh. Happy days!!
Disclaimer: This is for my reference only. You know what my memory is like; a sieve with a large hole through it. So dont read it if its going to make you sad! (:
FIRST DAY
.. i forgot. -takes reference from previous entry-
SECOND DAY
The highlight for me was getting full marks for an algebra test!!! IN JAPANESE OKAY. xD I never thought i'd say this, but THANK YOU MR TEOOOOOOOOO
And then, there was volleyball, in which the strange ang moh PE teacher got us to headbutt the ball in an effort to show them how one was supposed to be 'below the ball' to surf. Hmmm. That sounded wrong. AHWELL (:
Anyway, as a result, my hands were sore. Terribly. And needless to say, i managed to kill a few thousand brain cells. -animated clip of eroding sieve- Sigh. Erm... then, we had a music lesson! A special one, for the exchange students. We sang a canon for 'Shiki no Uta', the song of the seasons, and meanwhile gaped at the school's very cool blackboard. I dont really like them, actually, cause i'm allergic to chalk. BUT, this chalkboard would have been a blessing to all short teachers in our school. It was split into two sections horizontally, and you could pull them up/down so that you could, technically, reach the top of the board without difficulty.
... i forgot the rest. AAARGH.
LAST DAY (TODAY)
Today was most memorable cause i bought a bento set from the caterer downstairs. (They dont have a canteen. Everybody brings a packed lunch made or bought, and eats in class.) It was expensive. (EIGHT BUCKS.) But very interesting.
Then, we had a traditional tea ceremony (MY LEGS. THEY ARE SORE.) <--- we had to sit Japanese style. PAIN.
But the japanese man4 tou3s (manjuu) and the tea was really really good, i guess. (: then we had home econs... which was also interesting. culture shock, much - you eat right after you cook, in the HE room. there is a long table in the centre of it for that purpose.
Then there was souji - classroom cleaning. They take this very seriously. All the tables are moved to the front, and a few people get rags and brooms. The floor is swept, and then these people put their rags on the floor and RUN on all fours, with both hands on the cloth, across to the other side of the classroom, effectively cleaning it. They held races!!! Haha, so retarded! xD but fun...
The next memorable event was during their english lesson where their really funky teacher (like he laoshi!!!) got them to practice their english by asking us questions. ...which were really wierd. One of them was "what's your favourite sports brand?"... ahaha. (: then there were questions about favourite bands and computer games (they all play warcraft!!!) etc. it was fun!!
then it became embarrassing. i went up to say a speech as a representative of the exchange students in my class. i messed up BIG TIME. my GRAMMAR. SCREAM.
... ahwells.
its over now (: got lots of nice souveniers (sp?) gah i cant spell souveniers!!! or maybe i'm just sleepy. hmmm. anyway. they inclded:
laminated A4 card-thing with pics of the class and me
a paper doll thing!! (SO CUTE.)
a certificate of participation (the principal...)
a photophrame (A4)
manymany contact numbers... they all want me to write ;_; shit. i cannot lah, too lazy. will get steffi to help... xP
some shiny lock and bookmark with the Japanese school of Singapore's logo on it
I think the most interesting part of the entire trip was the culture, though. Cheesy as it sounds.
did you know,
1. The school looks shabby on the outside. However, all the rooms, excluding the hall, are air-conditioned.
2. They have three periods for recess: Lunch, Playtime and Resttime.
3. They are disciplined enough to eat lunch in class without a teacher watching over them. When the bell rings, everybody immediately goes off to wash their hands. (not STIFFLY, but they all go immediately, if you know what i mean.) Then they go back to class and shift their tables so there are small groups of 6 tables. There is no changing of seats to be near your friends. Then, everybody gets out their food and waits politely for everyone else to be ready. Finally, they say "itadakimaaaasu!" and THEN eat. During this period, no one gets up. Not until the bell rings, and they all say "gochisou-sama!" and clear up.
4. Most of the guys change in class. (i dunno about other levels, but this was sec one.) For PE, they even change their pants in there. None of the girls (who obviously change in their proper places, being civilized beings) bat an eyelid.
5. They are encouraged to leave their things under their tables.
6. People sleep through all the classes and manage to not only not get caught, but also pass everything.
... cant think of a conclusion. tired.. had to write this before i forgot...
night...
Disclaimer: This is for my reference only. You know what my memory is like; a sieve with a large hole through it. So dont read it if its going to make you sad! (:
FIRST DAY
.. i forgot. -takes reference from previous entry-
SECOND DAY
The highlight for me was getting full marks for an algebra test!!! IN JAPANESE OKAY. xD I never thought i'd say this, but THANK YOU MR TEOOOOOOOOO
And then, there was volleyball, in which the strange ang moh PE teacher got us to headbutt the ball in an effort to show them how one was supposed to be 'below the ball' to surf. Hmmm. That sounded wrong. AHWELL (:
Anyway, as a result, my hands were sore. Terribly. And needless to say, i managed to kill a few thousand brain cells. -animated clip of eroding sieve- Sigh. Erm... then, we had a music lesson! A special one, for the exchange students. We sang a canon for 'Shiki no Uta', the song of the seasons, and meanwhile gaped at the school's very cool blackboard. I dont really like them, actually, cause i'm allergic to chalk. BUT, this chalkboard would have been a blessing to all short teachers in our school. It was split into two sections horizontally, and you could pull them up/down so that you could, technically, reach the top of the board without difficulty.
... i forgot the rest. AAARGH.
LAST DAY (TODAY)
Today was most memorable cause i bought a bento set from the caterer downstairs. (They dont have a canteen. Everybody brings a packed lunch made or bought, and eats in class.) It was expensive. (EIGHT BUCKS.) But very interesting.
Then, we had a traditional tea ceremony (MY LEGS. THEY ARE SORE.) <--- we had to sit Japanese style. PAIN.
But the japanese man4 tou3s (manjuu) and the tea was really really good, i guess. (: then we had home econs... which was also interesting. culture shock, much - you eat right after you cook, in the HE room. there is a long table in the centre of it for that purpose.
Then there was souji - classroom cleaning. They take this very seriously. All the tables are moved to the front, and a few people get rags and brooms. The floor is swept, and then these people put their rags on the floor and RUN on all fours, with both hands on the cloth, across to the other side of the classroom, effectively cleaning it. They held races!!! Haha, so retarded! xD but fun...
The next memorable event was during their english lesson where their really funky teacher (like he laoshi!!!) got them to practice their english by asking us questions. ...which were really wierd. One of them was "what's your favourite sports brand?"... ahaha. (: then there were questions about favourite bands and computer games (they all play warcraft!!!) etc. it was fun!!
then it became embarrassing. i went up to say a speech as a representative of the exchange students in my class. i messed up BIG TIME. my GRAMMAR. SCREAM.
... ahwells.
its over now (: got lots of nice souveniers (sp?) gah i cant spell souveniers!!! or maybe i'm just sleepy. hmmm. anyway. they inclded:
laminated A4 card-thing with pics of the class and me
a paper doll thing!! (SO CUTE.)
a certificate of participation (the principal...)
a photophrame (A4)
manymany contact numbers... they all want me to write ;_; shit. i cannot lah, too lazy. will get steffi to help... xP
some shiny lock and bookmark with the Japanese school of Singapore's logo on it
I think the most interesting part of the entire trip was the culture, though. Cheesy as it sounds.
did you know,
1. The school looks shabby on the outside. However, all the rooms, excluding the hall, are air-conditioned.
2. They have three periods for recess: Lunch, Playtime and Resttime.
3. They are disciplined enough to eat lunch in class without a teacher watching over them. When the bell rings, everybody immediately goes off to wash their hands. (not STIFFLY, but they all go immediately, if you know what i mean.) Then they go back to class and shift their tables so there are small groups of 6 tables. There is no changing of seats to be near your friends. Then, everybody gets out their food and waits politely for everyone else to be ready. Finally, they say "itadakimaaaasu!" and THEN eat. During this period, no one gets up. Not until the bell rings, and they all say "gochisou-sama!" and clear up.
4. Most of the guys change in class. (i dunno about other levels, but this was sec one.) For PE, they even change their pants in there. None of the girls (who obviously change in their proper places, being civilized beings) bat an eyelid.
5. They are encouraged to leave their things under their tables.
6. People sleep through all the classes and manage to not only not get caught, but also pass everything.
... cant think of a conclusion. tired.. had to write this before i forgot...
night...