Aloysiad 15-12 2006.indd - St Aloysius
Aloysiad 15-12 2006.indd - St Aloysius
Aloysiad 15-12 2006.indd - St Aloysius
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from the senior school<br />
were on hand to inform students about all courses they<br />
were offering in next few years. Organisations which offer<br />
exchange and gap programmes and scholarships were<br />
also there. The College was well represented and students<br />
came away with very valuable information.<br />
This is now an annual event for our Year 10, 11 and <strong>12</strong><br />
students as part of their preparation for their future careers.<br />
Mrs Deirdre Agnew<br />
Careers Counsellor<br />
9th World Children’s Haiku Camp-<br />
Matsuyama, Japan 26–31 July 2006<br />
During Term III, the winners of the 9th World Children’s<br />
Haiku contest were invited to Matsuyama, Japan<br />
by the JAL Foundation, for a week long Haiku<br />
Camp flying Japan Airlines. We developed a greater<br />
understanding of Japan, its culture and lifestyle and<br />
enjoyed the mutual exchanges with participants from Japan<br />
and around the world. As Australia’s representative, it was<br />
tremendous sharing with twenty two other participants from<br />
seventeen different countries. The Camp greatly enhanced<br />
the experience I gained from the College’s Japan <strong>St</strong>udy<br />
Tour last year and was extremely enjoyable.<br />
Haiku is a traditional form of classic Japanese poetry<br />
using only seventeen syllables in the format of three lines<br />
consisting of five-seven-five syllables in each line. Its focus is<br />
on nature and daily life through which writers express their<br />
emotions. This year, we had to express our thoughts on the<br />
word “home”. Matsuyama is located on Japan’s southern<br />
island of Shikoku and its natural environment, provided<br />
much inspiration for Haiku writers. It is the hometown of the<br />
famous Haiku poet, Matsuoka Shiki.<br />
From Tokyo the participants flew to Matsuyama where<br />
we met a group of Japanese and Korean students and<br />
John, our activities co-ordinator who is an ex Shore<br />
Grammar exchange student. The welcome dinner party at<br />
Himegahama Inn where we stayed for the next two nights<br />
was delicious, with a smorgasbord of local food.<br />
Thursday was a real cultural experience. We watched<br />
suigundaiko which is Japanese drums and dance, then<br />
participated in calligraphy, Ikebana (flower arrangement)<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Aloysius</strong>’ College<br />
A Jesuit School for Boys _ Founded 1879<br />
The group working on Japanese poetry<br />
and a tea ceremony. Following this, we were challenged<br />
with bringing in a huge beach fishing net and mountain<br />
climbing, then cooked our BBQ dinner. The next day, we<br />
learnt and wrote Haiku poems, swam, did sea kayaking<br />
and stayed with our host family that night.<br />
On Saturday we attended the Nakajima Cultural Centre<br />
for the World Children’s Haiku Summit where the Mayor<br />
of Matsuyama, Mr Tajima Meishi spoke and each of us<br />
presented our haikus to the media. Then at the summer<br />
festival and fete, some of the highlights included shaved<br />
ice, fairy floss making and mini fishing. There was a<br />
touch of sadness at our sunset farewell BBQ beach party<br />
as we had such a great time and didn’t want to leave<br />
Matsuyama.<br />
Sightseeing on Sunday included the landmark Matsuyama<br />
Castle, a shopping centre, games and baseball centres and<br />
the Matsuyama fireworks festival that night was superb.<br />
Our meeting with the Minister for Education, Mr Kenji<br />
Kosaka in Tokyo was quite formal. He talked to us about our<br />
time in Japan before we flew back to our home countries.<br />
The fun filled week at the Haiku Camp was a tremendous<br />
experience in learning and sharing, enjoying Japanese<br />
hospitality, international exchanges and friendships so<br />
instantly made. I came back with many international<br />
souvenirs after giving all the participants a little Australian<br />
koala bear. The trip has provided me with a lifetime memory<br />
not only of a great week in Japan but of all those connected<br />
with it to whom I am grateful, including Mrs Teruko Sharif<br />
who has encouraged and inspired us in her Japanese<br />
classes, my fellow Japanese students at <strong>St</strong> <strong>Aloysius</strong>’, the<br />
College, the JAL Foundation and Japan Airlines and its<br />
representative, Ms Lesley Edwards.<br />
James Yee Joy (Year 10)<br />
Wacky Yak Designer Tats<br />
Young Achievement Australia (YAA) has been operating<br />
in Australia since 1977. It seeks to build partnerships<br />
with business and education to provide young<br />
Australians the opportunity to access vital business enterprise<br />
programmes.<br />
a l o y s i a d / p a g e 1 4
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