School Visit

Well yesterday was another day to remember!  We started our day off at the Ohirasan Buddhist Shrine, what an amazing experience.  We went through a full prayer ceremony and toured the shrine.  They were also kind enough to give us a full history lesson on the shrine. 

 Next stop was Chuo Elementary School.  This totally remodeled school was absolutely beautiful. The students were happy and respectful, students that you could see had a lot of pride in their school.  All students have the responsibility of maintaining and keeping the school clean.  With such a huge task at hand one would think there would be some element of chaos, but every system that I witnessed went off without a hitch, from the maintenance of the hallways to the serving and clean up of lunch.  The thing that surprised me most is that the students did not mind completing these tasks, not one bit.  After sitting in on several classes I could not help but notice that the children were eager to learn, and behavior was not an issue.   I had the pleasure of speaking with several staff members to get their insight on the school and school system.  The thoughts, and ideas of the staff were much appreciated.   Staff and students at this wonderful school were so friendly and inviting, I can’t wait to visit the next school scheduled later on in my visit.  

The day ended with another amazing meal, presentation and welcoming by the Tochigi Rotary Clubs.  Their hospitality is much appreciated.