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It brings many of us fond memories to look back on our experiences together in Japan Travelling with your friends across the world is so unforgettable and to have the opportunity to do just that in grade 9 is so incredible. Our itinerary was packed with so many must- sees, but I think we all wish we could go back and do even more. Japan has so much to offer! It’s nearly impossible to summarize, let alone review what happened on this trip, but I hope to give our group something to look back on and a chance for readers to become even more interested in our school trips
This was an exciting and early 5:00 am morning for all of us! We prepared to take off to Vancouver wearing our international studies t- shirts. Huge thanks to the teachers for helping us get through this step, as it can get a bit overwhelming. Once in Vancouver, we had a very long layover of 7 hours, where we got a free meal voucher for the 2-hour delay. We had so much time that we were able to enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants.
After a long day of travel, we arrived in Tokyo, and met up with our guide and a bus that brought us through the rainy streets of the busy city. Our first hotel was very big and exciting, we even had a 7-11 right beside it. The 7-11s in Japan are very different from home and they offered lots a snacks like mochi, sushi, strawberries and even bubble teas
Taiko drumming was very entertaining and even the teachers got into it as we learned the technique from a very skilled instructor The Tokyo Skytree was so high and the view from above was spectacular Tokyo is huge with buildings spanning as far as the eye can see in all directions. Later, the group had the chance to go explore and shop in a market area. This is where many of us first discovered Tanghulu (strawberries covered in candy). We were hooked on it for the rest of the trip. With a visit to the Meiji Jinju Shrine, we had some nice photo opportunities, and saw beautiful architecture and landscape. The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation interested a lot of us. We were able to see robots, visual exhibits, and imaginative technology. The night ended with lots of fun at a karaoke restaurant where we got the teachers singing Michael Jackson and Britney Spears songs!
Unfortunately, the weather was a little crazy with rain and wind and our visit to the beautiful Sankein gardens wasn’t so peaceful. Apologies to the hotel for breaking all the umbrellas. The wind was wild! However, we still enjoyed the beautiful grounds and all that it had to offer. China town was something to see. It was very busy with locals and tourists but had great shopping. I liked being able to go off in our own groups to explore.
The day didn’t go quite as planned, with a big accident impacting the roads to our next destinations. We still made it, but with not as much time. Hakone Open Air Museum was very memorable. The art was so whimsical with a mix of classical old-style sculptures and modern contemporary art pieces. My favourite part was getting to see the stained glass tower and climb up the stairs to the top for a view of the whole museum.
It was beautiful day for the scenery of Japan, especially the infamous mount Fuji. We were able to take an aerial car all the way up to the top of a high point so that Fuji was even more visible. There were lots of photo opportunities and ice cream too! I was so grateful for the opportunity to see this site with my friends under the sun!
It was so nice to see locals walking the streets dressed in traditional kimonos. Beautiful cherry blossom trees were in bloom all along the streets. We got to walk through the well-known bamboo grove with towering shoots all around us. It was so special to get to learn more about Japanese culture and religion and I loved the architectural style as well. We enjoyed a matcha tea making workshop that was so detailed and precise. It was such a great experience to partake in as it is so important to Japanese culture. A highlight for a lot of us was the sushi workshop that afternoon. A skilled chef guided us through it, and then after, we enjoyed our creations!
Sadly, this was the last day which felt unreal to most of us as the trip went by so fast. We made our way to Tokyo by going on the bullet train which was such a modern – and fast -ride. As soon as we knew it, we were back on the plane heading home. I am still processing the trip because so much happened and I had such good laughs with teachers and friends. I was able to gain a more profound appreciation for travel and all the work that gets put into it. I found the Japanese people to be respectful and very helpful. All the cities were clean and efficient. I am so grateful to have had the chance to travel to Japan for the first time with such a great group of people. I hope to travel more with them in the next few years. Thank you teachers for making this trip so amazing!
As the boat pulled up to the steep shore, all I could think about was how I didn’t see anything that looked like a playground. The shore was not the typically sandy beach that comes to mind when you think of a shore. We got off our steel canoes directly onto the shore, before taking the muddy path up the steep hill. Beside the large cabana on stilts and bathroom was a large field where there were a pair of wooden swing sets, both with no seats to swing on, and nothing else.
I am not going to lie: I thought we were going to paint or improve a pre-built playground but, besides the beginnings of a pair of swing sets, there was nothing. The only other thing I saw was a pile of wood. We were not assembling pre-built playground equipment out of a box; we were taking wooden planks and nailing them into slides, teeter totters, and benches. This was a rather daunting task, and it didn’t help that it had just started pouring rain. We were split into two groups, and each group had a pair of carpenters who worked for the lodge we were staying at. My group was to make a simple park bench and table. The process started painfully slowly, with one person holding the wood while the other hammered the nails in which sounds easy, but the nails were long and thin and would bend and twist with the slightest unaligned strike of the hammer. It took some trial and error, but our group finished the picnic table and the other group had assembled their swing set.
The next day we were much more efficient at the work site. We assembled a metal trampoline and a large wooden slide in no time while the carpenters made a pair of teeter totters. The day went by a lot faster than the previous one, probably because it wasn’t pouring rain like the day before - and because most people had worked out how to fix the nails quickly after bending them. At the end of that day, we were told that the next day a bunch of kids would arrive at the park and we would hold a party for them. We had built the new playground at the local gathering spot for the area, so people would be boating in to see what we had made.
The next morning, we arrived early and came with a bunch of food and drinks. We then hung balloons on strings so that the whole place was very colourful. We proceeded to line up at the pathway so we could greet the kids when they arrived.
Roughly seventy kids showed up with broad smiles on their faces. They all went off to have fun on the playground. While building the playground, I don’t think any of us realized what the impact of our work would be, but from seeing all the smiles on the kids’ faces, I could see that it was enormous in a positive way. Kids were swinging as high they could, diving onto the slide, and jumping on the trampoline as high they could, having a blast. I will say, though, that if I could change anything, I wish we had used screws instead of using them darn twisty Brazilian nails.
It was a trip filled with vibrant people, breathtaking landscapes, and unforgettable experiences - from the streets of Sau Paulo, through the dense Amazon rainforest, to the party city of Rio de Janeiro.
To begin the trip, after a long day of travel we landed in Sau Paulo for a short one-day visit. We then headed back to the airport for our flight to Manaus – a city with a population of 2 million located right along the great Amazon River.
After a much-needed night’s rest, we experienced our first foreign food! It was a fish called tambaqui, a nut- and fruit-eating relative of the piranha, accompanied by rice covered with ‘farina’ (a breadcrumb like crumbly yellow topping made from yuca) that would be served with every single lunch and dinner for the rest of the trip.
After lunch, our lovely guides, Carlos and Antonio, who would go on to help us throughout the entire Amazon experience, showed us around the city of Manaus. They brought to light the rich rubber industry history of the city, and we were given the chance to try real acai fruit – yes, the REAL acai, not the acai bowls that went viral on Tik Tok. The fruit is blended and served with condensed milk to give it an extra tinge of sweetness.
By: Maya A.G. Grade 12
After Manaus we headed for Tupana Lodge, located in the center of the rainforest! Travel that day included a boat ride where we got to swim with Brazil’s famous pink river dolphins; a visit to an indigenous community to witness a native dance where we had opportunities to hold various animals like sloths and monkeys; and a stop at the convergence of the Rio Negro (black) and the Solimoes River (brown) where a distinct line can be seen between the two waters. The Tupana lodge was our home for five nights during which we fell completely off the grid in a no cell service or Wi-Fi zone. Liberated from technology, we experienced the different wonders the rainforest had to offer such as eating Brazil nuts, gum syrup from a tree, and even larva! We were also lucky enough to visit an Amazonian family at their home. We got to show the kids different games like Jenga, and they showed us their favorite game – soccer. They beat us by a landslide, of course. We also went deep into the mangroves of the Amazon and fished for none other than the piranha fish.
In Rio de Janeiro, our hotel was situated right along the famous Copacabana Beach. During our free time we would often go to the beach to take in the ocean and see why it was so wellknown.
We toured around the city to see some of its more famous sites: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the Celaron Steps. Another cool view of the city came from the hike we did on our last day which brought us to a summit where heavenly looking clouds parted to reveal various golf courses, the ocean, and Rocinha - the largest favela in Latin America. We got to peer into the city's renowned party reputation with the Carnaval history presentation at the factory where some of the floats and costumes are created. To get the full Carnaval experience, we dressed in extravagant samba outfits and learned some simple samba moves by two dancers.
We had many opportunities to shop for little trinkets, but the best shopping spot of all was the night market we visited. Some market staples were handmade jewelry, printed dresses, canvas prints, and obviously, very tiny bathing suits. During our week in Rio, we dedicated a day to take a three-hour bus to the ocean peninsula Buzios, east of Rio. There we took a boat tour of the peninsula that was surrounded by millionaire villas and tiny islands. This was the most relaxing day of the trip, as we got to sit, tan, and admire the scenery. On our last day, we partook in a cooking class which brought together all the foods we had eaten throughout the trip in a unique culinary experience.
Words cannot express how thankful we all are for this opportunity to travel the world with our friends and learn about a culture that is so different from our own! Thank you, WIC, for Brazil 2024!
Since being back from Cambodia, I have had some time to reflect on the many adventures we went on. One that stood out to me was our time at the Killing Fields. After the initial shock, it made me realize how recent the event was. Thinking about the events that led up to and caused the Cambodian genocide made me realize how resilient the people of Cambodia were and are. A country that has been through so much yet stands so tall with its rich history and culture. The kindness of the people will never be forgotten by me as they welcomed me so warmly. I love this country, and I hope that I can return someday.
Sadie V. Grade 11My International studies trip was definitely a highlight of my time so far at WIC. I had decided to go to Cambodia as it had been one of the places with rich and different culture. Considering this was my first trip of out continent in my lifetime, I was excited to see what a culture like that would bring to me. Before we arrived in Cambodia, We had a layover in Hong Kong where were able to explore Lantau Island. My favourite part of this was being able to ride the gondola from the monastery back to the airport as it gave incredible views of Hong Kong and the connection to mainland China. We then headed to the capital of Cambodia, Phenom Penh. Here we explored the city and then got to do our volunteer project which was a great experience. We then took a bus to Siem Riep. We explored some of the countryside on the way there which was also cool to see. In Siem Riep, we got to explore the area of Angkor which holds Buddhist temples from the 12th century. We also got to see a local dance and circus as well. Overall, I had a fantastic time on my trip and while I had a great time sight seeing, I was also able to bond with people on my trip and creating friendships out of it. I would highly recommend going on a trip anywhere as they are great experiences.
Oliver F. Grade 11
Cambodia was exceptionally eye opening and not only gave me the opportunity to teach Cambodian children about Canadian culture, but to learn about Cambodian history and discover things I didn't even know about myself. The three days we spent at the school was, without a doubt, the highlight of the trip for me Being in an underprivileged environment coming from a developed country was definitely uncomfortable at first, but seeing the smiles and joy on each and every kids face taught me that material possession is not as profound as it is made out to be. Working in the scorching heat with my peers to paint the school felt a little tedious at times, but seeing the Cambodian children in such a jovial mood while tirelessly working was inspiring and allowed me to experience a feeling of community and togetherness that I have not felt before in Canada. By the end of our last day at the school, we had built a sand soccer field, painted a classroom, and had painted the entire outer fence, but the most significant and impactful thing we had built was relationships with the Cambodian people. Overall, I am extremely grateful that I was given the opportunity to travel to Cambodia and experience their culture
Jaiden B. Grade 11
At New Futures for Children, as we were painting, there were jumping spiders everywhere, and the kids picked up that I was terrified of them and screamed when I saw them. After they figured this out, they caught crickets, and mischievously asked " what do you think is in my haaaaaand?" then would show me crickets and I would scream and they would giggle. It became a game we would play and was one of my favourite memories.
On the last day of the volunteer project, the kids put on a traditional dance for us, it was beautiful. After which for culture sharing, we taught them Cadillac Ranch.
When we visited the Hero Rats, we learned that, Jessie Graham, one of our trip leaders had actually donated money to the organization, and when you do that you are kept updated on how the rats are doing. When we got there, his rat was the top performing rat, and Jessie like a proud Father said " That’s my boy!".
Cambodia was an incredible trip, that I learned a lot from. I absolutely loved the volunteer project, and the exposure to culture. From seeing the crazy way Cambodians drive (no lines on the road), to how trusting they are with leaving stalls unattended at markets, I feel I learned a lot. If I could, I would go to Cambodia again!
Snippets of Grade 12 student, Olivia D.’s digital journal
Over 20 hours of travel to get to our destination but it was the first few days of memories and bonding. From group trivia on the built-in plane TVs to debating the best style of neck pillow, it was a long but fun haul. Shoutout to KLM for their amazing service and hot snacks before we landed; the margherita pizza after 8 hours on a plane was a life changing experience.
March 24: Mwanza and Lake Victoria
We arrived in Mwanza, also known as Rock City, where we checked into our hotel that looked at Lake Victoria, one of the largest lakes in the world. Later, we took boats out and received guided tours with history of the lake and the city.
March 26: Village of Hope
March 28: The Serengeti
For the next three days we spent time at a charity organization with Canadian ties, Village of Hope We broke into groups and assisted in painting a brand-new home for albino children or playing sports, painting crafts, learning dance routines, and leading classroom games. We created bonds with kids aged 4-14. I will never forget these days.
It is difficult to describe something indescribable. From off-roading in the jeeps to having a full-grown male lion roar at us, I am wowed by the Serengeti. The days standing in the jeeps brought sights of elephants, giraffes, lions, and the great migrations; we saw thousands of zebras, water buffalo and wildebeests. A core memory will be standing in the wind as we drove into the sunset.
We descended a steep path into the lush crater where the jeeps were almost tipped completely vertical. Zebras and buffalo grazed on the lush green grasses while elephants and rhinos roamed. The thousands of flamingos were astounding and they were accompanied by more hippos than I knew existed. The cooler air was a lovely change to the heat that we had experienced so far. It was a surreal oasis.
A short prop plane ride took us across to the island of Zanzibar. Surrounded by the clear blue waters, it was breathtaking. We swam in the Indian ocean and the water was unbelievably warm. My favourite part was the spice farm tour. Our tour guide walked up to a tree, sliced a chunk of bark off, and told us to eat it. It was cinnamon! We then watched as our tour guide climbed a palm tree to get us fresh coconuts that he sliced open. We drank fresh coconut water and wore the handmade banana leaf crowns we were presented with. We ate a tasty lunch at the farm and then shopped in their spice market. I think the smell of the tiki masala spices I brought home might linger in my suitcase for a long time.
After a drive from the crater to Moshi we visited Mount Kilimanjaro. The jeeps drove us up the mountain where a single local tribe resides along the base. We met some of the local people and began our short hike. Although very muddy and slippery at times, the destination was well worth it. The waterfall was remarkable. Some of us went for a swim in the tumbling falls although I chose to spectate. After the hike, our local guide and his family prepared a local lunch for us including boiled banana and beef stew. I almost forgot the most iconic part: seeing the full process of coffee bean processing. We watched as the beans were roasted over an open fire and then we took turns chanting and smashing the beans to grind them. The whole experience was surreal. Itwasthepeople,theplaces,andthesmall,dream-likemomentsthatmade Tanzaniathetripofalifetime.Iwillbeforevergratefulforthememories.
“Seeing this monkey sitting there all alone made me feel very grateful for everything I have, and it put a lot of things in perspective. He’s not showing off or doing anything, he’s just sitting there thinking about life, and seems truly at peace. This made me feel more connected to nature and therefore myself. Although it’s not the big game you usually see in photos of Tanzania, this cute monkey staring into the distance really resonated with me so I felt inspired to sketch it.”
Reflection, artwork and photo submitted by Jack E. Grade 11
A BIG THANK YOU TO THE TRAVELING STAFF THAT MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE!
And a big thank you to the behind the scenes help from all staff and faculty that make this program a huge success.
Tanzania TANZANIA