Tamura High School 文化祭 (School Festival)
August 10, 2009 by chelsey1016
My school’s festival was on November 20, 2008. Every year, schools in Japan have a school festival; every three or four years, it’s a huge festival that lasts all weekend! My school’s big festival is this year, 2009…and I really wish I could be there!! It was such an awesome day, I got to walk around and talk to so many people I’d never had the chance to meet before. I really loved it…it’s one of my best memories at Tamura.
The first year kids made handprint "turkeys" for Thanksgiving in English class.
I was excited because it snowed.
Our flower display
My favorite 3rd year boys!!
There are so many different things at the school festivals…most clubs set up booths or demonstrations, there’s pictures and flyers and posters everywhere, and there are tons of activities. Examples of a few: tea ceremony demonstration, flower arrangement display, live music/concerts, piano performances, crafts, dance performances…and so many more! It was awesome and so great to see all the talent of the kids in my school!!
This band was all girls, and they dressed up in costumes...like Pikachu!
These are all 3rd year boys. They yelled at me while I was walking down the hallway, and made me take a picture with them.
Their was a little display of pictures and a slideshow from our trip to Okinawa!
I couldn't stop laughing when I saw this. What a weird name! It's a photography poster....no "Nipples" are pictured!
Calligraphy exhibit about the Okinawa trip. Some of these kids are amazing at calligraphy!!
3rd year boys. People always wanted me to take their picture!
Okinawa
This was taken from a teacher's office, where I spent all of my Japanese lessons and study halls.
3rd year girls. "CHELSEY! CHELSEY! SHASHIN KUDASAI!!"
Pumped up Doraemon? Lay off the steroids, dude.
2nd year girls (:
Bassist in my friend's band. They're rockstars!
These guys put tape on their shirts to spell out girls names, while the girls were onstage dancing. How cute!
I'm a celebrity!! Haha, it was ridiculous how "famous" I was!
3rd year girls, right after they got done dancing.
The last activity of the day. They had to pass some tiny items down the line, from chopsticks to chopsticks.
2-4 won...followed by all 3 sports classes. Of course, right?!
I was always getting ambushed for pictures. These girls were all in my gym class. ❤
2nd year sports class boys. They were always asking me to be their girlfriend! Haha, they're so funny.
Courtyard from our balcony on the 3rd floor. I climbed lots of stairs everyday!
LOL did you ever find out why they wrote nipples or explain to anyone what it meant??
No, I didn’t!! But it’s hilarious!!!!
The school festival looked great, it’s a real shame we don’t have ’em back in England 😦
Oh and, all-girl-costumed-rockers?!! Awesome, I wish I was there to see that!
were you the only foreigner in the school?
Yes, I was the only foreigner.
We had one teacher from LA, she wasn’t as WHITE as me…haha.
And she’d already been there 2 years.
So I was the new celeb!
We don’t really have school festivals back in the US either. The girl band was cute, not like the “girl bands” you see here! And the girls were all my friends (:
Okay, seriously, this is awesome. I wish I could go to Japan one day. And looking at all of your blogs, it looks amazing. And the school festival looks so much fun.
And the boys must loveeeee you. Haha!
But, ity looks like loads of fun. I can’t wait till my mom says I can visit Japan. I think I’d have a blast there. And thank you for posting these pictures. I love them. You’re a great photographer! 😀
Hi Chelsey.
I’ve been working at Tamura HS as an ALT now for almost two years and I never knew you had come till now. I replaced Lucy (L.A. ALT) in August of 2009. I’m from Australia but my background is Vietnamese, so like Lucy I don’t look white either. People who don’t know me think I am Japanese. They actually talk to me in Japanese. Most of the time I don’t understand what they are saying.
I think that it was fantastic they you came. I wish I was around. It does wonders for the students. When you get your degree, you could always come back and be an ALT.
I recognize some of the students in the photos but I think they have graduated now. Is there anyone here that you would like to say hi to?
If you have time could you tell me what program you did the student exchange under? I was thinking some of my students back in Australia might be interested.
Good Luck with everything
Tio
Hi Tio,
Sorry it took a month for me to reply. How are you after the earthquake? How is Tamura? I hope everything is okay. I know that Miharu is mostly undamaged. Have you evacuated?
I did the exhange program through our sister city organization. Miharu is sister cities with my hometown (Rice Lake, Wisconsin) as well as Zamberg, Czech Republic.
I hope you are safe, my thoughts have been with Japan for the past week. The pain I’m feeling is unspeakable.
Chelsey
Hi Chelsey.
My family and I have moved to Niigata. We are fine, and like you awaiting news.
Lets hope and pray that everyone will be fine.
Tio
Hello,
My name is Kira and I was actually in Miharu from June 2007 to June 2008. Looking through your pictures we actually knew some of the same people. Adam, the English teacher was actually my dad’s replacement when we moved back to
Wisconsin. My family has been in contact with people there sinse the earthquake/tsunami and if you would like us to ask about any people you may know I’d be more than happy to. Thankfully there were no deaths in Miharu and it is currently being used as an evacuation site for surrounding cities. The radiation from the power plant is now roughly 10 kilometers away from Miharu though.
Kira
Hi Kira,
I’ve been in contact with my host family and most of my friends. Everyone is okay and safe, and many are now evacuating. I’ve been getting information from Jeana Schieffer on facebook, and also following it on the news. My heart is aching. I hope your loved ones in Japan are all safe as well.
I added you on facebook, and you can feel free to email me at chelsey1016@hotmail.com
Thank you so much for offering to get in touch with people!
Chelsey
Tio,
Glad to hear you’re okay.
My host family evacuated to Niigata-ken as well.
My mind has constantly been in Japan lately.
I hope we get good news soon….
Stay safe!
Chelsey
is Japanese boys friendly to you?
because you are always with them in pictures
i thought they are shy?
watashi wa honto ga suki datta, . . . .. .Nippon wa utsukushi . . .