The Happo-Cho Program aims to enhance international understanding by providing AIU students with an opportunity to interact with Japanese people, visit Japanese educational sites and experience Japanese culture. We left AIU at 8:00am and arrived at Hachimori Elementary School around 10:00am. The staff offered us some snacks and gave us a brief orientation before the start of the exchange activity with the kids from Grades 1 to 3.
Around 11:30am, the pupils from Grades 4 to 6 entered the gym. After one more hour of cultural interaction, it was time to say goodbye. Some teachers were suprised when Jam and I hugged some of the kids. I guess it's a cultural thing. We left the Hachimori Elementary School at 12:00 noon and went to the Office of Happo-Cho's Board of Education to have lunch.
After lunch, we had some free time before our next activity so we walked to the beach nearby. The beach facing the Sea of Japan wasn't exactly as beautiful as the ones in the Philippines but I was just glad to see a body of water for the first time since I arrived here in Japan last month. All I have seen so far are mountains, lots and lots of mountains.
After our walk along the beach, we proceeded to a tiny house owned by an old Japanese tofu maker. The old man taught us how to make tofu or bean curd made from coagulating soy milk. He carefully told us the procedures step-by-step. Good thing all the ingredients have been prepared in front of us. After a good 20 minutes, the tofu was ready so we ate what we made. It was really yummy! He also offered us some donuts made from soy dough as well as soy ice cream!
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