JICA Interns' Events

English Conversation Class

Intermediate： Every Thursday 1:00〜2:30 Mine Office 2F Tourist Salon Beginner： Every Thursday （Except for the last Thurs. of the month） 7:00〜8:00 pm Sepamu Eigo de Shaberanaito KIS version： Last Thursday of the month 7:15〜8:30 Sepamu Fee： \1000 (for one year)

Starting from last year, there are now three types of English classes offered. There is a beginner's English class that teaches basic easy to use phrases. Then there is an intermediate class that goes into more detail with more difficult grammar. Finally, there is a new addition, Eigo de Shaberanaito where a theme is decided upon beforehand and the class dialogue will be based around that theme. All classes are on Thursday. The classes are free for KIS members, for others there is a \1,000 fee. First time is a free trial, so come by anytime and check it out.

Tea Ceremony and Doll Festival

Date & Time： March 11 2:00 pm〜 Place： Sepamu Cost： KIS members: \200 Others: \300

In one event the participants were able to exprience a Japanese Tea Ceremony, the Doll Festival, origami, and wearing kimono. During the party some people helped the interns put on a kimono while others helped with decorating the doll platform. Everyone then was able to enjoy the Tea Ceremony and learned how to make an origami krane as well as a kabuto helmet.

Nobuyuki Kawamura, you will be missed!

Date & Time： March 29 6：30 pm〜 Place： Seidokan

Farewell words from Mr. Kawamura： 　I am very grateful for everyone taking the time from their busy schedules, particularly with the reception of the JICA interns, to allow me to be here. 　I would like to again thank you for all your help with looking after the JICA interns. 　Other than for a year and half when I was an elementary school student in Hiroshima, I have lived my whole life in Tokyo. I was assisgned to Kosaka in September two years ago and during the December of that year there was an extremely heavy snowfall. Due to the hard time I had with shoveling all the snow, I suffered from hip pain. However, after the snow was gone, I began to notice birds singing, I saw the beauty of the changing colors of the leaves, and felt the beautiful nature of Lake Towada. I noticed the changing of the four seasons. It was not until I came here that I felt longingly for spring. I felt a real excitement during spring. 　Also, as for hot springs, I was used to just taking a quick dip, but after coming here I saw the value in going to several different hot springs, even though I will now be living in Tokyo I'm sure I will remember how good the hot springs are here. Thinking that, I went to a hot spring just yesterday. Now I am full time with JOGMEC in Kasasaki so I will not be coming back to Kosaka on business, but when I can visit I will be sure to come in the winter. Since there is winter one can experience the beauty of spring, summer, and fall, so let's see each other again in winter. 　Now at MINETEC, we are planning a course for to educate Japanese and are planning for Japanese interns. So, if you will be holding any events, please be sure to include the Japanese interns as well. Everyone from KIS and from the town, I would like to thank you again for all you have done for me. Thank you very much.

KIS Members' International Experience

Let's go to New Zealand!
March 23, 2007〜March 27（5 days）

Cost： About \100,000 No. of Participants： ３ Leader： Former CIR Rowan

Date Schedule Lodging 23 Leave from Aomori, Arrive in Seoul Hotel 24 Arrive in NZ、Free time Hotel 25 Maori performance、Free time Hotel 26 Bungee jump、Leave Auckland Hotel 27 Leave NZ, Arrive in Japan Hotel

13th Junior High/High School Students' Study Abroad

Off to Utah!
March 23, 2007〜April 1（１０ days）

Cost： about \100,000 No. of Participants： ３ Leader： CIR Andrew By clicking here, you can read the impressions of the participants.

Date Schedule Lodging 23 Leave Japan, Arrive in Utah Homestay 24 Pow wow, Free time with host family Homestay 25 Tabernacle choir, Baptist service, Free time with host family Homestay 26 High school visit, Temple Square Homestay 27 High school visit, Humanitarian Center, Service activity for the homeless Homestay 28 Bingham Canyon, Dinosaur museum, Farm Homestay 29 Leave for Moab, Goblin Valley State Park, Rock art, Ghost town Hotel 30 Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park Hotel 31 Rapelling and hikings, Return to SLC Homestay 1 Leave Utah,　Arrive in Japan Airplane

Easter Party

Date & Time： April 21 (Sat) from 1:00 Place： Tenshikan Cost： \200 ※for elementary school students

It was a little late, but we were able to hold an Easter party this year. Unfortunately, it rained on the day of the party so we were unable to have an outdoor Easter egg hunt. However, we were still able to play some games. We decorated Easter eggs, played a balloon game, tried some American Easter candy, and had other activities. The kids enjoyed the games, but it was their first time trying Easter candy so they had a hard time trying to eat it. The candies were nothing but sugar and so were way too sweet for them!

Concert of A Single Flower

Art Hills (near Hanawa High School) April 21 (Sat) opens at 7:00 pm Admission: \2,500 (Coffee & Cookie included) Kosaka Tenshikan (Meiji Hyakunen St.) April 22 (Sun) opens at 2:00 pm (Please park in the lot next to the Korakukan) General Admission: \1,000 Junior/High school students: \500 Elementary school student and below are free ※After the concert there will be a small activity for the children with the performers.

Festival of a Single Flower honorary producer Shigeaki Hinohara (Director at Seirokakoku Internationl Hospital) Mr. Imanishi, who experienced Hiroshima and is the author of the Japanese children book, "A Single Flower" that is the concept for the Festival of a Single Flower, which is planned for Cantabria, Spain in October 2007, quietly tells a story of life and peace using the character of a small girl and the backdrop of World War II. That is related to my wish for young lives to grow up in a healthy society. Both Japanese and Spanish people deeply care about art and culture, firstly, if each child and adult can live in peace, and the circle of international friendship spreads, and if a light is shone on the world where illogic spreads, then that is something we should truly and sincerely support.

Acacia Festival

Spanish Class

Date & Time： First class：Aug. 9 (Tues) Sepamu Second class：Aug. 19 (Fri) Sepamu ※　For the third class on, as soon as we know the JICA interns' schedule we will decide on the dates and have them in the next KIS newsletter. We are planning to have about 8 classes altogether. Fee： \1,000（1 year validity）

At last, we will be holding the summer Spanish class. It has been three years since last time, so we will be starting with the ABCs. All beginners are welcome. We'll be learning greetings and easy phrases so that we can communicate better with the Spanish speaking JICA interns. You can start at any time, and the first time is a free trial. Come on by for a peek.

Halloween Party

Date & Time： Oct. 28 (Sun) 6：00〜8：00 pm Place： Sepamu Fee： \300

This year's Halloween Party was held on October 28. Unfortunately, there were not as many party-goers as we had hoped for, only about 80 kids showed up. It may have been because the party was on a Sunday night. Anyway, along with the usual pinata and costume contest, we were able to play some games, the kids got to hang out with their friends, and have a lot of good candy. So, since we accomplished the main purpose of Halloween, that is eat a lot of candy, I'd say the party was a success.