• Meeting Shun'ichi, and listening to his story about his teenage years. We learnt how strong music was, because it changed him into a better person. Through music such as starting the Shoen Taiko Drum Troupe and Sanshin, Shunichi adapted his ways as a teenager for the better.

• I felt very touched listening to the songs he composed, they all possessed strong passion and emotion in the songs. Even though I did not understand the lyrics in his beautiful melodies he composed, the passion in each word had an affect on me.

• The music in Izenajima captivated me. The power and the catchy rhythms put into the beat of the Shoen Taiko drums by the players were amazing. And how that they all worked together as one, and kept one another in time, without stopping or using words. It showed me that music is simply a language which every type of person will understand.

• The ‘Fur Elise, Beethoven' wake up call for the whole island in Izenajima, it is so interesting. I heard it every morning at 6am, and at first I thought it was a fire alarm or something!

• I remember I was really nervous! I am so grateful that homestay mother went out of her way to prepare special dishes for me when I stayed with Mickey's (My homestay sister) family. I felt so welcome, and quite embarrassed. They were so kind, and I was privileged to have them as my homestay family. I respected my homestay mother very much because she would wait for me to finish dinner before she started her meal. I didn't realize that she was waiting for me to finish… and I ate slowly because I was so nervous having my first meal at a homestay.

• The futon is the best bed ever! I didn't know how comfortable it was until I went to sleep on it… I think that is possibly better than a bed. The bean pillow was quite awkward to sleep on at first, but after a while, I got used to it. I really liked the kotatsu - something I recommend that should be an asset in NZ homes!

• Kneeling was quite hard for me, as I was not used to it. But soon I learnt that you could kneel slightly to a side.

• The visit to Izena Junior High, and the visit to my homestay "sister's" highschool (Yokohama Commercial Highschool) are experiences I will never ever forget! It was a wonderful experience and I loved it!

• The lunch in Izena Junior High is something that stood out for me, the food was delicious - especially the fried sweet potato! Yummy! And it was interesting how the students ate food brought into their classroom, and how the students served the food. In New Zealand I usually brought lunch from home.

• The students also brushed their teeth after lunch. They kept their toothbrushes in the classroom. That was something that I wouldn't see in New Zealand!

• I helped out with the classroom cleaning in Izena Junior High. It was fun, and they drew up an amazing table to see which student would do what cleaning task.

• I spent two days at Yokohama Commercial High School, which went by so quickly! I miss ‘Y-ko' very much! Their school subjects had a big variety and I enjoyed doing some Calligraphy. I was also amazed that they took four English classes; Grammar, Listening, Speaking, Writing. They are all very talented and clever students! I was also surprised to find there were only three or four males in the class, the rest (Around about twenty or more…) were female!

• The uniform in ‘Y-Ko' also had a big variety. I felt envious, as they could choose from many coloured jerseys to wear. Their uniform has a diverse range, the students are very lucky!

• The students had six periods (classes) a day, and for me that felt quite strange. They also did not have ‘interval', but instead had ten minute breaks between each class. I was not used to this, and had to restrain my stomach from growling throughout the morning until lunch! It was quite funny actually.

• It was a fun and challenging task. It was a challenge because I felt out of my ‘comfort zone'. I also felt shy communicating with the group. It was quite difficult, because they encouraged us to use as much of the Japanese language as possible, and I did not know very much as I had only been learning for less than two years. I didn't contribute as much at first because I couldn't use English - but my shyness evaporated quickly when we worked together and as I got to know the group members more. I felt quite ashamed that my Japanese speaking skills were quite amateur…. But it did not stop me from being me.

• Sometimes I felt isolated because I didn't understand what the people in my group and other groups were saying, when they spoke Japanese, and I felt myself drifting away from everyone. I guess I locked myself away from others, and now when I think back, I regret it a lot. I should have contributed to every second, but I felt extremely out of my ‘comfort zone' - and I felt useless because I didn't understand much of the Japanese language.

• I tried to resolve this problem by attempting to talk to the others in the group using Japanese, but it was very difficult! My Japanese vocabulary is quite limited and I only know a few words and phrases.

• Sometimes I felt not myself, I felt quiet and lonely because I wanted to try to talk to everyone and let them be affected by my contagious laughter and happiness, but I just couldn't bring myself up to it. I felt shy and not in the ‘crowd'.

• Everything! I felt like we were all one big family. And despite our different cultures and beliefs and the language barrier, we could all relate to each other and look out for one another. Everyday was a new challenge, and filled with excitement and fun!!! We did not know each other for very long, but when we were all together it felt like we knew each other for years.

• I have definitely changed! I used to rely a lot on other people, and I couldn't do things by myself. But everything in this amazing experience just developed me into a more independent person. I can do things by myself, and not rely on others as much anymore, and I am proud of that.

• At first, I felt quite reluctant to leave NZ, and go to a different place, nearly on the other side of the world, and join a programme with six complete strangers and the reception team. It was on the other side of the world! I didn't know what to expect.

• On the first night even though my Japanese teacher accompanied me to Japan , I felt so homesick. I felt lonely because it just felt scary to be by myself in a hotel room, in a foreign country. I didn't understand much, basically I didn't understand anything, and I felt so useless. I wanted to go back home. I cried that night because my mother cared about me a lot and told me to check the closets in hotels in case there was someone hiding in them. I felt scared that time, but now as I am writing this, it all seems so funny. I even checked under my bed! I was reluctant to believe that Japan is a safe country, one of the safest in the world- No matter how many countless times my Japanese teacher assured me!

• But a few days later, I felt confident and assured- I didn't even need to check closets. Japan is indeed, one of the safest countries in the world! And the six ‘strangers' along with the reception team are not strangers anymore. They are all great friends and I treasure the friendships we share very much!

• Yes! Many activities. My Japanese vocabulary has expanded (a little!) and my speaking (and confidence too) has improved by far!

• I can tell everyone from New Zealand about every single detail in my experience, there wasn't a minute where I was bored!

• Shunichi and his friends' love, dedication and passion to their music and Izena Island has moved me and given me even more motivation to learn the Japanese language and culture. Their love for their island and Japan has caught on to me!

• Meeting all the Deai photo-essay café participants has given me another inspirational "boost" to pursue many other languages, so that one day I can talk to them fluently not only in Japanese but in their native language too! (I think a Photo-essay café Reunion is in order!!)

• Overall, I've come back from Japan with many more new goals which I hope to succeed in.

• I have an "album" of memories that I can take back with me, and I will never forget all the fun I had. You could say I went through some sort of "metamorphosis" in that short time I spent overseas. Now I have a list of goals to complete, before a reunion is in schedule….. (hint, hint!)

• Just coming back from this awesome experience has changed me into a much more independent person than I was before I participated in the programme. I think some of my Japanese teacher's (Miss Kemp Sensei) contagious passion and love for Japan and its vibrant culture has finally rubbed off on me!

• I can't wait until I visit Japan again, in a few years time (when my Japanese vocabulary has improved), and finally be able to understand so much more- I'll be able to read the road signs….and I'll finally be able to communicate better with Japanese people.

• The politeness, kindness and welcoming atmosphere of Japan and its people gave me such a surprise. Even in the hustle-bustle of the city there was still that beautiful atmosphere which embraced me and made me feel at home.

• Thank you TJF for an "out-of-this-world" experience, I will never forget all the people I met in Japan and the fun-filled ten days I spent over there!

Even though I had some problems during the whole programme, I enjoyed every minute of my time over there nevertheless! I guess the problems were challenges which helped me improve the person that I have become :-) I am very grateful for that.

I think I overcame the language barrier by just communicating with them through actions and even drawing pictures! I kept on telling myself, "Make the most of it, this is your only chance to, and you'll regret it if you don't!". So I eventually just willed myself to talk to everyone, and make the most of my chances. :-) 

I think the participants got to know each other ... through just the fun times we all shared, and the group work bonded us closer. And just times on the bus, or times in the hotel when we had our "parties" and sang songs, it just felt very happy! Its quite hard to describe how we got to know each other, but it was through just simple things as well as talking to one another. As I mentioned before, singing in the hotel, our parties we held, and the time we had together, and our common interests in shopping and sport just bonded us all closer.