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Navigation
Day 01 (17 木) - Transit (Brisbane-Osaka)
Brisbane International, Kansai International, Hotel Nikko Kansai
Day 02 (18 金) - Transit (Osaka-Haga)
Shinkansen, Himeji, Nohara Elementary
Day 03 (19 土) - Haga
School Activities
Day 04 (20 日) - Haga
Free Day
Day 05 (21 月) - Haga
Mt Shosha, Night Festival
Day 06 (22 火) - Transit (Haga-Kobe)
Himeji, Sumiyoshi Elementary
Day 07 (23 水) - Kobe
Free Day
Day 08 (24 木) - Kobe
School Activities
Day 09 (25 金) - Kobe
Day Tour
Day 10 (26 土) - Transit (Kobe-Sakai)
Expo Park, Tomioka-Higashi Elementary
Day 11 (27 日) - Sakai
Free Day
Day 12 (28 月) - Sakai
School Activities
Day 13 (29 火) - Sakai
Lord Mayoral Visit, Drums & Dance, Welcome Dinner
Day 14 (30 水) - Sakai
Nara (Todai-ji), Kyoto (Kyomizu-dera)
Day 15 (01 木) - Transit (Sakai-Osaka)
Big Bang, Kagerouike Park, Kansai International
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Thursday, 17 September (Day 01)
2009年09月17日
Bidding farewell to parents and loved ones at 5:30, we made our way without incident down to Gold Cost International Airport. The airport is still being constructed, so unfortunately, pre-flight shopping was limited to drinks and the odd last-minute travel adapter. The students' excitement managed to keep them in good spirits thoughout the 9 hour flight to Kansai International Airport in Osaka and after an uneventful flight, we disembarked at approximately 18:30.
Airport immigration and customs checkpoints were breeze due to the extreme efficiency of the Japanese airport staff and we were soon able to meet up with Michie Seamons, Yoichi Kawashima and some old friends, including teachers from Tomioka-Higashi Elementary, friends and teachers from Nohara Elementary and members of the Kobe-Australia Friendship Society.
Tonight we are staying at the Nikko Hotel Kansai Airport. After settling the students in their rooms with a snack, I am now able to write this entry. Unfortunately, the South Wing of the Hotel, where we are housed, does not feature coverage by the Hotel's wireless network, so I am writing this from a seat on the lobby. As well as that slight inconvenience, due to the late hour, I've not been able to upload any photos from Day 1, however, please check this page again in the coming days as I hopefully will be able to access a computer from Nohara Elementary and provide updates to this and future entries
- Mr Peterson
On waking up early Thursday morning, I couldn't believe I was about to leave on my 6th Ironside Study Tour to Japan. The morning started with excitement at schoo and the excitement didn't stop until we landed at Kansai Airport at Osaka. Ellen, Anjni and Danial all celebrated birthdays with everyone singing "Happy Birthday" at the Gold Coast Airport. Birthday cards were given and minties were shared. The Captain of our Jetstar flight even wished them Happy Birthday - how special! Being back on Japanese soil made me realise how much I enjoy visiting this amazing country and seeing the people I know and the new friends I will make on this visit.
- Mrs Ruddick-McGrath
Student Thoughts
The Bus Arrives!
After waking up early and arriving at school, the exctiement about going to Japan was ecstatic! Everybody bid farewell to their families and followed their colour group to the buss. The hour long drive to the gold coast airport flew by quickly, as it sunk in tht we were going to Japan.
- Victoria
Plane Trip
The plane trip seemed to go for a long time, and I think everyone got a bit bored towards the end. But I know everyone was very excited about the mini TVs that were handed out! I found that the plane food was quite nice this time round, and some of my friends were excited about it too. I also liked watching movies on the TV and playing the games too. When we landed, everyone cheered and clapped and it was extremely exciting to step out onto Japanese land. I'm missing home a bit, but I'm also having a good time in Japan so far.
- Kate
The Hotel
We opened the door of our hotel room to find 3 beds all set out neatly. A dressing table with a huge mirror covered one of the walls. We started to look around and found a fridge in one of the cupborads! WOW! The bathroom was squeaky clean and had our towels all hanging up for us neatly, it was amazing. However, the toilet was the strangest toilet I had ever seen, there were 4 buttons with different signs on them - I had no-idea what they meant. Luckily there was a lever that you pull to flush the toilet so I didn't have to worry about the other buttons.
- Nalika
It's our first day in Japan and we are already having fun. It was a long trip on the plane, but we had heaps of fun. We are all excited about meeting out billets tomorrow! And we can't wait to see them for the first time. We have aready experienced Japanese food and it was great! We look forward to the rest of the Journey.
- Lucy, Laura & Tahlia
We arrived at the airport feeling tired from the early wake-up. We swarmed into the check-in where we slowly, but surely received our boarding passes and checked-in our luggage. We continued through to the gate where we waited for what seemed like an eternity before getting on the planbe. By which time we were all very excited as for many of us this was our first time in Japan
After a long tiresome flight we arrived at Kansai airport. The adults in-charge took thei small groups of children through baggage claim, etc. We wheeled our bags from the airport to Nikko Kansai airport hotel. After a few snap shots of the hotel we sat down in front of Mrs Ruddick-McGrath and she explained whedre the aduls were situated on each floor and when to be down for breakfast in the next morning.
- Fletcher, Lachie & Rhys
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