TOTARA VILLAGE WELCOMES JAPANESE DEAF VISITORS AUGUST 2012

Tena koutou katoa (Greetings to you all)

On Monday afternoon Totara Village staff and students had the opportunity to meet our manuhiri (visitors), five Japanese Deaf students and three adults. 

Introductions were shared: Yutaka Osugi (leader) Takashi Shozaki (professional actor), Hanae Ochi (teacher of the deaf), five students whose names were - Naoki Iwata, Ten Ohama, Kanae Oishi, Yuka Tsuji, Maika Tanizawa.

Communications were a slight problem to start with. We were able to get through a word at a time.  Kaori Kobayashi one of our Deaf teachers did a fantastic job being our translator.  The Japanese were very lucky to also have a dictionary translator (small electronic keyboard) to help us communicate, but we were having fun determined to find ways to communicate!

Everyone had the chance to mix and mingle with our manuhiri and enjoyed sharing our dinner with them. Afterwards Ava held an Activities Night where we shared each other’s signs for five particular colours: red, green, black, blue and yellow. We were split into three groups of five. The Japanese students showed us their signs for the colours and we showed them our colours in NZSL. After a few laughs and mistakes on the way, we were off to a fine start. We made the symbol for the Olympic flag.

On Tuesday after school, our students were looking forward to more activities with the Japanese students.  We were ready by 4pm and off to Mount Eden, where it was windy, which we are used to. Some of the Japanese students thought it was very cold and windy. They had warm clothes on but maybe not enough.  They took many photos like we did.

Next stop was Mission Bay where we got dropped off at Kelly Tarlton’s and walked 2km around the water front to Mission Bay beach. Although our students thought nothing of our windy waterfront, our visitors thought it was quite cold. We encouraged them to run to warm up, which they did. Whether it was the run or the trees blocking the wind, we all felt warm on Mission Bay beach. 

The fountain in Mission Bay was changing colours and the Japanese were intrigued by it’s beauty. We all took more photos. 

It was getting late for tea, so we went back to Kelston to buy our fish’n’chips, then back to the Common Room with bread, butter and tomato sauce. We showed our guests the real Kiwi (New Zealand) way of eating fish’n’chips: without plates but using the paper that was used to fold the chips in as our plate. We explained it is a very Kiwi tradition, fish‘n’chips and tomato sauce. They had never seen sausages before! We encouraged them to try fish’n’chips and sausages in the Kiwi way. They enjoyed their yummy kai (food).

The next morning, before 5am, some of our students and most of the Japanese students went to see how a hangi (roasting pit in the ground) is prepared. They watched the adults setting up the fire and putting the kai into the pit when it’s hot enough. 

The students all looked so tired after their early morning, but agreed it is worth rising early to enjoy such an experience.  By lunchtime the hangi was ready to eat.

After lunch we were treated to a performance by Takashi Shozaki. He entertained a group of KDEC students: our youngest pre-schoolers to our oldest Transition students, and all the staff who joined the audience. Even though some of us may have difficulties communicating, his performance transcended language barriers. We were able to understand and admire. 

We had quite a light dinner after the hangi for lunch. Then another kiwi favourite, ice cream and fruit salad for desert, which was most popular among our Japanese visitors.  We provided six different flavours of ice cream so everyone found a flavour they enjoyed.

On Thursday after school, our students waited in anticipation to meet up with our Japanese visitors. Homework and duties were forgotten as we waited for our new friends to set up the Common Room for us. We were excited yet sad because it was their farewell. 

We stayed in the Common Room from 3pm to 10.30pm! All of the students were tired but determined to be there and not miss this last evening with their friends.

The Japanese visitors came with food galore, ‘Sushi’ and ‘miso’ soup which was delicious.  Kanae showed us how to make our own sushi wrap. We are all very fast learners and eaters!  It’s a shame we can’t have sushi every night, but we can definitely have it once a week now we know how to make our own!

We had our presentation after dinner, our Japanese friends showed us their activities and how to paint our names on this special paper that they use for writing which was a big ‘WOW’ for those not familiar with their style of writing.

Finally we held poroporoaki - our farewell speeches and presenting taonga (special gift) to our visitors, some with mixed feelings and some sad.

We want to say “We have all enjoyed your company, and learned a lot in such a small amount of time.  Thank you for sharing your culture, your language and your friendship and aroha with us.  You are all most welcome back anytime.

Kia kaha (Stand strong) Ka kite ano (See you later)