Harajuku and home stay

We started today by packing up all our gear, which took some longer than others- Brittany, I'm looking at you! :)

Today we started the day with a stop off at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo (previously Edo Castle). The gardens were peaceful and lovely and we took some sweet photos of the moat and look out tower (as you can only actually go into the Imperial Palace 2 days a year).

 

We then headed off to Harajuku's Takeshita Street, where young Japanese teenagers hang out for some shopping time.

The kids went shopping, and then we walked over Yoyogi Bridge where a street performer was giving a demonstration of his "excellent" magic skills. He had Ben and Stacey trained so well by the end of it!

We walked to Meiji Jingu Shrine, through the lovely lush forest only metres away from the busy Takeshita st.

At 5:00pm, we nervously started the Host Family Meeting Ceremony. Students were nervous but excited, in various amounts. I myself became quite nervous thinking of the students leaving us. The ceremony itself was hugely touching, with Hayley and Jordan's family holding up a "WELCOME HAYLEY AND JORDAN" sign and doing a dance in the crowd. When the girls were introduced to their family, their had necklaces made of lollies strung around their necks. It was beautiful to see. Families of all the students were smiling and hugging our students, so happy to welcome them into their home.

I have to admit, it was hard to see them go, I got a bit teary, and sitting here in my room alone now feels so empty without the laughter of our wonderful group filling the air.

Each of our students have such wonderful qualities about them, and I hope they truly enjoy their home stay.

The host families seemed so warm and kind, I'm sure they will do their utmost to make our kids feel at home.