Hornets Say 'Konnichiwa' to Japan During Spring Break
Students and chaperones pause in front of the Kaminarimon Gate en route to the Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo. Photo: Mr. Albert Peterson
By JONATHAN LI and YUEHAN DAI
On April 2 at approximately 2:00 a.m, a group of 36 Midwood students stepped into Japan, beginning an eight day journey across the country, led by Mr. Albert Peterson and six chaperones.
The trip covered sights from the bright neon lights of Tokyo to the shrines and temples of Kyoto, the deer-filled parks of Nara, the natural beauty of Hakone, and the renowned cuisine of Osaka. The cost for each student was $4,800, while last minute sign ups were $5,200.
According to Mr. Peterson, Japan has consistently been one of the most requested destinations among students and it is also a favorite of his. He describes the trip as a “once in a lifetime experience” where students open up to new things and create lasting memories.
On days two to five, the group explored the Kansai region where they visited Osaka Castle, Todaiji Temple, Nara Park, Kasuga-taisha Shrine, Fushimi Inari-taishi Shrine, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, the Golden Pavilion Buddhist temple, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, and the Fugaku Fuketsu ice cave.
Japan was a bit of a culture shock, but often in positive ways.
“Tokyo was a lot like New York, but in the more sacred places you could see how they value nature and culture,” said junior Sofiia Serdiuck. “The temples and all the ancient places, they keep them clean and organized.”
“Cashiers give you a deep bow for purchasing a small item,” said junior Raymond Gong. “Everyone would keep to one side of the staircase and wait in a line for the train. It really made me think about American culture and honestly made me a little embarrassed.”
“It's more of a norm there to not eat in public, and if people do, they're meant to hold onto their garbage,” said Ms. Janet Gillespie.
On days six to eight, the group was in Tokyo visiting the Asakusa Kannon Temple, Tokyo National Museum, Ueno Park, Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum, Tokyo Tower, Inner Garden, and famous neighborhoods like Akihabara and Shibuya. They also experienced a sumo-style hot pot meal.
Students and teachers also had free time to explore Japan on their own, but the time limit and geographic range were a constraint.
Ms. Mamie Chu walked by a matcha making class, and though she didn’t have time for it, she brought some back home with her.
Gong said, “I wish I got more time to shop. I’m pretty big on clothes, so I was a little disappointed when I came home with a much lighter suitcase than I anticipated.”
The trip was an opportunity to build relationships. “I’ve made so many friends from Japan,” said junior Asha Archer, “even some who I knew from before the trip but actually got to talk to more on it, which made our friendship a lot stronger.”
Mr. Julio Hernandez was glad to catch up with his former students and spend more time with his current ones. “You form a bond with your students, which is nice,” he said.
Of course there was a lot to see while visiting a new place, but a few things stood out.
Gong’s “hidden gem” spot was Imtiaz’s Camera Market located in Akihabara, a neighborhood known for its vast amounts of electronics, videogames, manga, and anime. “It was a great place with a ton of old digital cameras for a good price,” he said.
Mr. Hernandez recommended the 7-Elevens, which are way different from those in the United States, with a larger and healthier selection of foods.
Mr. Peterson, who has set his sights on Iceland for next year’s trip, recommended Japan’s strawberries, which he described as “the freshest, ripest strawberries that taste amazing.”
Eventually, the journey came to an end on April 10, as the group returned to NYC jet-lagged but filled with a deeper appreciation of Japanese culture, and carrying plenty of souvenirs.
Ms. Filomena Daniels said, “The whole country is a gem, everywhere you turn or look there’s something magnificent.”