Seiritsu International Education

Over the holidays I also got sick, I had a bacterial infection. It has made January very exhausting and I have not had much time to enjoy Japan since I have been back.

This is the time of year where we should be super cautious with hygiene. We must wash our hands with soap and use sanitizer. If you do get sick I recommend drinking hot honey and lemon, eating lots of fruit and veg and getting lots of rest.

I am now feeling much better and so this weekend I was able to explore, I went for healthy vegan food in my favorite cafe "Cafe Stay Happy" in Shimokitazawa. They have kotatsu (low heated tables) and hammocks so it is very relaxing.

writer: staff  date: 11:22 AM | Life at Seiritsu

Hi all,

After getting to swim in Hawaii and soak in the hot spring in Niigata, I needed some more water activities! Did you know that Nagaoka, Niigata is known for their koi fish? Of course, I could not pass up feeding these creatures. I even let them gum my finger because they don't have teeth! I even had the opportunity to handcraft a koi coaster, which was probably my favorite activity.

Cheers,
Teresa

writer: staff  date: 8:56 AM | Life at Seiritsu

This winter break was really nice! I went to school on all of the optional half days and I think it was worth it. It was nice to not just have some time at school and study but be surrounded by my classmates.

During winter break I also went to Toyama! I was there for a shorter 1 month and a half study abroad program over the summer last year. I was hoping I'd have at least one chance to visit my host family before my program ended and this plan to visit Toyama was actually made before I extended my program so I'm super happy I not only got to visit them but that I get even more time Japan! I was also able to stay with my host family from my last program who were so hospitable and really made me feel like I was at home. It really feels like my home in Japan I can always go back to.
While I was there I ate tons of Masu No Sushi and my host mom's home made mochi! Masu No Sushi (ますのすし) is like a pie but sushi. Basically it's a circle of rice with a thick layer of trout on it! Besides that I also did lots of sightseeing of the beautiful landscapes in Toyama!

In general I had a great winter break and can't wait to see what school has next in store for me!

writer: staff  date: 9:04 AM | Life at Seiritsu

For my winter break, my family came to Japan and I spent it traveling around with them. The first few nights we stayed in Tokyo. By now I know the city like the back of my hand, so I enjoyed showing them around some of my favorite places around Tokyo, such as Harajuku, Shimokitazawa, and Yanaka. We then hopped into a bus and rode down to Hakone where we stayed in a beautiful ryokan (traditional Japanese inn). To my delight we had our own personal hot spring in our room and a beautiful view of Mount Fuji from it. Afterwards, we got on the Shinkansen at Odawara and only two hours later we were in Kyoto. In Kyoto I saw beautiful traditional houses and vibrant shrines on almost every corner. The last stop was Osaka, which basically was a mini Tokyo. I sadly couldn't stay up for New Years because we had a 7am flight January first, but it was a winter break I will definitely remember for a lifetime.

writer: staff  date: 1:55 PM | Life at Seiritsu

Hey everyone. Happy New Year. We just restarted school after the winter break. I hope that during the holiday you had a great time like I did. First, it was an occasion to see my friends a lot: we went see films, do shopping, visit exhibitions, and so son. In a word: fun. For the New Year I went with my host family to Mt.Takao. The view from the top of the mountain is just amazing. Now that I have experience with the Japanese New Year I know it's very different than in Belgium. This break was the best I've had since I arrived in Japan.

Thanks for your attention.

writer: staff  date: 1:52 PM | Life at Seiritsu

The holidays in Japan was an interesting experience. Christmas is not a national holiday, so most people still had school or work. Although Japan did not really celebrate Christmas, New Years is a very important holiday here. There are also holiday illumations all over the city. For example, I went to one in Roppongi with my host family.

writer: staff  date: 11:34 AM | Life at Seiritsu

Over the winter break, we had a lot of tough training. We also had a tournament that started on Christmas day and went until the 29th.
It was a very successful tournament for me as I started in Category 2, but was moved up to Category 1 after a couple days and stayed there for the rest of the tournament.
I then went home to Australia for 2 weeks, and enjoyed seeing my family and friends whilst also doing more training.
I am now back in Japan, and back doing school and football every day. I'm looking forward to the next couple of months as they will be crucial for my career.

writer: staff  date: 2:48 PM | Life at Seiritsu

Over the winter break I took some time to wind down and took a break from my normal study routine to watch Star Trek and talk with my family. For new year's I ate mochi and osechi and was harassed by a pooch trying to steal my food at every meal. I went to a local shrine on the third for my new years wish, which was very laid back. Not much to say other than it was nice being able to sleep in and relax. Good vibes all round.

writer: staff  date: 3:05 PM | Life at Seiritsu

Hello again!

This holiday season was honestly amazing. For Christmas, my host family celebrated the weekend before Christmas Day (as most Japanese families do) with two amazing dinners together. My host mom even included some avocado because she knows its my favorite! I spent Christmas Day with Mona, one of my best friends on the program, walking around Shibuya and just chatting. These few days were especially difficult as this was the first time for me to be away from my family for the holidays. I miss them so much!

New Years (which is much more important here than Christmas) was another set of a few amazing days. I spent New Years Eve with my host family and we started the evening with my host grandparents eating a huge and delicious meal. Afterwards, my host grandparents went home and my family just watched TV while eating a ton of snacks, including my absolute favorite Japanese snack: じゃがりこ. Around 11:30 we walked over to a local, but popular shrine. At exactly midnight, the monks rang the shrine bells and everyone rushed (in an orderly fashion b/c Japan) to bow, clap and throw in their 五円 coins. It was such a cool cultural experience.

Now that school has just started again, I'm realizing how all the time I spent with my host family helped my Japanese language skills. My comprehension skills have improved immensely and I can understand my classes much better than before.

Now after an almost month long break, its time to get back to work. (And look forward to our next big break in March!) - Faith Villarreal

writer: staff  date: 2:45 PM | Life at Seiritsu

Over the winter holiday, I went to Ao no Dokutsu (meaning blue cave). It is located in Shibuya and it is full of blue illuminated trees. My mom took me there since I'm always busy with soccer. It was beautiful and super fun and I wished I had more breaks from soccer to go to new places with my family.

On December 23rd, we had our last soccer game with the seniors. Sadly, I was injured so I couldn't play in the game but I was cheering from the side hoping we could win. The score was 1-0. We lost but I saw them trying their hardest and having fun which matters the most. I will miss playing with the seniors.

writer: staff  date: 8:47 AM | Life at Seiritsu

Over the holidays I went back to the UK and saw my family and friends. It was amazing to see everybody but everything remained the same as when I left.

I spent Christmas day with my family and boyfriend and my sister's boyfriends family. We went out for a 3 course Christmas Dinner (See the photos).

For New Years eve I had a party with my friends, we each cooked one dish and ate together and then danced into the early hours.

How did you spend your winter holidays?

writer: staff  date: 11:12 AM | Life at Seiritsu

Hello, I am Rebecca. This might probably be my last blog because I will graduate from Seiritsu High School in March and become a university student! Time flies! I would like to thank all teachers and my friends who supported me for three years. You always make me feel confident and passionate. Now I've finished all the tests and decided which university to go to. I want to share some of my exam experiences with you.

I passed the tests of Sophia University, the news which I knew only a few weeks ago. I used all special recommendation tests for my university test, which finishes earlier than normal Japanese exams. I chose 2 universities to break even and 4 to challenge. So if you want to focus on special exams, you should do many researches to find which school and which major fits you most. Choose schools from different levels, then you can have more choices.

The three years in Seiritsu was the most amazing time. I learned a lot and made many lifetime friends. The most important, I learned about Japanese culture and history. I studied in class and attended group activities with all Japanese students. I also went on excursions with international department students and teachers. I gained so much happiness and unforgettable memories. For those who are studying and teaching in Seiritsu, I hope you can enjoy days in Seiritsu and keep on working. I am looking forward to enjoying my life as a university student, but I feel so lonely to graduate from Seiritsu ! I will come back to visit you guys soon!

writer: staff  date: 2:47 PM | Life at Seiritsu

Hello everyone,

We want to wish you all a very Happy New Year. In Japan it is the start of the 2nd year of Reiwa.

We posted a quick message on the Zebra site as well. You can see it here:
https://www.seiritz-zebra.jp/essay/2020/01/happy-new-year-4.php

May you have a wonderful new year!

writer: staff  date: 9:55 AM | Life at Seiritsu