HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1989-08-30, Page 8-e --:theknow Sentineii, Wednesday, Augligt 309 no
Forry„L- Kinioss t onager
k.ume from year stay in Japan
Editor's -Note: The following story is
reprinted with permission from the
Shoreline Ner'gvs, Port Elgin. Becky is the
daughter of BonnieandErriest Ackert, of
Port Elgin, formerly of Klidoss =Township.
bySantlyTomlin
Her year .as an exchange student in
Japan las convinced Becky Ackert that
she would like to go back there one by.
On he Rotary Youth Exchange Pro-
gram, the 17-yeapold SDSS student left
Port Elgin last August, and sarrivedhome
On July 17, in time for grade 12 in the fall.
"It was a very good year," said Becky
Last week.
She stayed with five Rotary host
families in Osaka Prefecture, about three
hours southwest of Tokyo on the bullet
train. The prefecture has a population of 8
mill' ion people, making it the second
largest city in Japan. It is actually very
much like our counties, said Becky, and
contains about -47 'cities, though you don't
know when you are leaving one city and
entering the next because they are so built
up.
Becky attended Ashiya High School, a
private all -girls school. It is part of alarge
university-collfgeahigh school -juniorhigh
school compound. About 1,600students at-
tend the high school and junior ugh,
estimated Becky.
The :school year runs from April to
March, .so she attended _second year
(grade 11) classesirom last August midi
March, then was in third year (grade 12)
from Ap mitil:July.Beckysaidstudents
get onemontlroffin August, itmemooth off
from the middle ofllarChtothe middleof
April, and two weeksat New•Yeaes.
School roles were verystrict 'compared
to Western :standards, :said Becky.
Students ttend classes Isis days of the
week,mustwear mitiforms, andlave their
thairthortiorintwobraids.
Becky to& math, adence, phys. ,ced.
Japanese calligraplry, 1 -sewing, .coOkhig,
Japanese, English, Japanese history and
world geography, all 'required courses.
It took op to two hours each way from
her host fanflies' to .school, so school was
the main part of her life.
addition to regular classes, ;students
bad to join one :leer school 'club. 'They
could only be lin 'oneand 'were not allowed
to thaw, but Becky was given the uppor-
tunily to be in several. She joined the
Brass Rand Club, the KOto Club (the tradi-
'tonal (Japanese musical Instrument), the
'Tea Ceremony Club 'and the Flower AT -
ranging nub, at very traditional things
that Japanese girls areemeeted to learn.
Ber school had never had an exchange
student before, ,so wayone stared at ber
fora while. "They were veryshyatfirst,"
ishe „recalls. 'The other girls would come
up, look :at me, smile, tow and rim ,away
for the first month. But they were all very,
very, friendly."
She made quite a few special friends,
and several of them will be arriving soon
in Ontario for „the month of August. ---
Becky went 'to Japan knowing little
about the country, the language ,or the
Japanese life-style. -
She said she can now communicate
much better, understanding the spoken
word well.
"I was surprised at how very modern
and expensive everything is,"Becky com-
mented. A cup of coffee can :cost45 (Can. )
Real estate costs41004000 for one square
metre of land, so there is no wasting of
space, mid few gardens. L' 'f.s made in
Japan, such as electronics cost more
there. D • Tgner fashions andperfumeare
itery popular, and verrexpensive.
The few souvenirs Becky brought hack
are typically Japanese, including dried
fish, =Japanese dolls, a green tea service,
fans amlianterns.
She was surprised at howmarry Western
business names she saw there, including
Esso, Shell, McDonaldt and Kentucky
Fried Chicken. The foods:taste muctthe
same as here, Becky sad, but are much
more -expensive, Ere -GO -yen ($450) for a
'Big Mac.
'Though Women/s,trightsrhavegrovmas
amissue since he 4apim•Socialist,party '
landitalemaleleader;Takikollollavibad
la ',surge m ulaiIty,,Sedk3ideels lhey.
have a langwayt0 go. Ahot95:per'tenttaf
women quit their jobs whentheygetmar-
Tied, and mostgirls attandatwatyear eel -
lege Tutherthan university.
-The food was alsoa new experience for
Becky,t1iouhetriandlikedmanyof
thenewtastes.Biceisthestaplemthalot
'llnrrtovage O.
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1,
Due to the Lia-bour
Day ',11.0.liday
September 4th the
Holiday Deadlines
for the Luohnow Sentinel
will be as follows; A
3.
Friday, September ist
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year in Japan, telebratether Teturnhome withiamlly.luatigienda at a party on July 23.
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