Leopalace apartments was my home for the month - a great location near trains, restaurants, and grocery stores.

My first Sunday - a visit to Hiroshima Peace Park. This is the Children's Peace Monument near the museum.

A welcoming bulletin board was featured in the entry hallway to the school.

A view of Ajinadai Nishi Elementary from across the playground. The gym is on the left and classrooms on the right.

A welcoming assembly was postponed by the threat of a typhoon, as students stayed home on my first day at school.

The staff of Ajinadai Nishi assembled in the principal's office to welcome me and two other teachers new to the school.

Students arrive early and play either in classrooms or out on the playground. Girls are playing with stilts and unicycles.

It was exciting to have my own desk in the teacher's workroom. Here is my view towards the front of the room with Principal Yoshimasu on the telephone.

Parent Chie Oka translated my presentations for each class. I talked about life in Michigan and showed a video of Allen Elementary.

Teachers are very involved in raising plants with all students. Sako-sensei and Maejima-sensei are inspecting plants in the central courtyard of the school.

Young gardeners inspect cabbage plants for insect damage.

Students show their harvest from the school garden. Vegetables were often cooked and consumed by students in the school's kitchen.

Math class with Maejima-sensei

All students take swimming classes during the summer, taught by their classroom teachers. The pool belongs to the school and is not available for adults.

Dave Corsa hanging out with students during the lunch break.

Students take turns serving lunch to  their classmates in their own classrooms. Lunches are prepared at a central kitchen  and delivered by truck.

Enjoying lunch. All students are served and eat the same lunch as the staff. Students clean up the dishes before taking recess.

After lunch Dave would read books in English as librarian Rika Ono read the same book in Japanese. For this session we are reading Crow Boy by  Taro Yashima

After the lunch recess it is time to clean. Each student has a role as classical music is played on the p.a. system.

Senseis Sako and Corsa sign an agreement regarding the schedule of video conferences that took place through March, 2005.

Fourth grade teachers meet with mathematics teacher Maejima to plan upcoming lessons.

 

Relaxing after lunch

The Fulbright Memorial Fund Master Teachers: Sako, Maejima, Hashishita, and Corsa wearing Allen Elementary School polo shirts.

A fond, but sad farewell to the wonderful staff of Ajinadai Nishi Elementary School

Ajinadai Nishi School is a short
distance away from famous
Miyajima Island



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