In late-May, just before the Memorial Day 3-day weekend, the Shoreline students visited the local elementary school to share Japanese culture with kindergarten students. We were all impressed by the children’s enthusiasm and curiosity in learning from Japanese college students. None of them seemed shy at all.
In mid-June we had Quarter Break – a vacation between quarters of about ten days. Many students made their first attempt at individual travel in America, going places like Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Afterward, we learned that some of them had various problems on their trips, like missed flights, no-show tour buses, etc, but the students had the courage and determination to handle the problems on their own, without calling school staff for help. Experience is the best teacher, as they say.
At the beginning of Quarter Break, twenty-seven of our Shoreline students joined a river rafting trip sponsored by the college. Quite fortunately, the weather that day was gorgeous – blue skies, bright sunshine and warm breezes. On the way to the river, we stopped in the mountain village of Leavenworth, also known as “Bavarian Village” because its architecture, food, music, and businesses portray the culture of German or Swiss mountain villages. Then we headed to the nearby Wenatchee River for the rafting trip. Because June had been quite rainy until then, the water level was high, making for a wild ride! The waves in the rapids were high and everybody got soaked. Many people even got thrown into the water by the wild waves. (The water was really cold!) Nobody got hurt, but two of our students’ eyeglasses were washed away.
Just before the Quarter Break, Edmonds Community College had a ceremony to unveil a plaque acknowledging the contributions of Jimmy Moritani to the college’s International Programs.
Last week Summer Quarter began. It seems some students are still in “vacation mode” – having trouble getting up on time for class, and concentrating. But I am sure they will readjust. As we enter July, everyone is looking forward to the many summer festivals of Seattle, starting with the Independence Day fireworks at Gasworks Park on Lake Union in Seattle. Hopefully the weather will cooperate.
In mid-June we had Quarter Break – a vacation between quarters of about ten days. Many students made their first attempt at individual travel in America, going places like Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Afterward, we learned that some of them had various problems on their trips, like missed flights, no-show tour buses, etc, but the students had the courage and determination to handle the problems on their own, without calling school staff for help. Experience is the best teacher, as they say.
At the beginning of Quarter Break, twenty-seven of our Shoreline students joined a river rafting trip sponsored by the college. Quite fortunately, the weather that day was gorgeous – blue skies, bright sunshine and warm breezes. On the way to the river, we stopped in the mountain village of Leavenworth, also known as “Bavarian Village” because its architecture, food, music, and businesses portray the culture of German or Swiss mountain villages. Then we headed to the nearby Wenatchee River for the rafting trip. Because June had been quite rainy until then, the water level was high, making for a wild ride! The waves in the rapids were high and everybody got soaked. Many people even got thrown into the water by the wild waves. (The water was really cold!) Nobody got hurt, but two of our students’ eyeglasses were washed away.
Just before the Quarter Break, Edmonds Community College had a ceremony to unveil a plaque acknowledging the contributions of Jimmy Moritani to the college’s International Programs.
Last week Summer Quarter began. It seems some students are still in “vacation mode” – having trouble getting up on time for class, and concentrating. But I am sure they will readjust. As we enter July, everyone is looking forward to the many summer festivals of Seattle, starting with the Independence Day fireworks at Gasworks Park on Lake Union in Seattle. Hopefully the weather will cooperate.
Neal Colodner
June 30, 2010
No comments:
Post a Comment