So, we will have to leave to Haneda airport… I tried to be as responsible as I could for managing with rubbish left over and organise as much as I could.

I have nothing really much to write about, but overall, I enjoyed this years field studies. I especially enjoyed the river rafting and, this could be random but its actually true, bus riding!! (because inside the bus was nice and cozy…) Throughout this field studies, I have been risky to myself with every experiences and activities therefore I am pretty used to move around and sort of exercise from those experiences. I feel I got more strength to myself, and responsibilities. I was able to learn lots of things and I am happy to be serviceable from some of the activities. Also, I am also happy to be able to write in to my blog about the focus on an environment. I was also able to gather interesting facts and eager to keep in record in my blog like this I hope next years field studies will be exciting like this years.

Expecting (already) for next year – Thai, Phuket trip ^^

(I did publish it, but I might put some pictures in this post sooner or later)

Final night!! It is tiring, there is scratch in my throat, and got a runny nose (I might suffer in the airplane, going back to Tokyo Haneda airport probably) But still, I was able to enjoy the final night of field studies Lots of fun memories!!

Anyways, this day us group 1 went to rafting and mountain biking, and first we went to rafting. The volume of water increased comparing to the day before because the day we went kayaking, which was day 3, Hokkaido was raining cats and dogs. However, we enjoyed rafting especially when the boat runs on the big waves and there are lots of people (about 6 people) on the boat and it was very bustling. While we were rafting we saw an object, near the forest-ish place, that looks like “Nessi”, which is an unidentified mysterious animal, observed at loch ness in Scotland. It might be strange, but I thought it is very unique. After the rafting, we went to the restaurant in service area and ate soba for lunch.

Now we moved on to the annual event: MOUNTAIN BIKING. We had to cycle at the base of “Youteisan” for about two to three, or maybe a lot more longer, hours. The distance was 25 km, so it was pretty hard for me who doesn’t have much physical strength >< I gave up on the part where there was lots of pebbles, which was the most hardest and the climax part. It was actually a first time for me to retire before the goal… It was sort of regretful. Let me now explain about the Youteisan we used as a cycling corse. Youteisan is a colonial mountain, which is located in Hokkaido Shiberishi, Southern part of a district, North-east of the Iburi province. Its elevation is 1,898 meters, and this mount Shiberishi selected as one of the hundred famous mountain in Japan. Overall, I enjoyed this activity too, and I haven’t rode on bicycle for such a long time, so it was a great experience.

Picture of the mountain is below. What do you think about it?:

At evening, it was a skit night. It was encouraging, and I enjoyed all of the groups’ performance. I was feeling a little sorry for leaving this wonderful place, and this happens every year

The next post will be the last one.

Ok, time flying and it is already third day of field studies. I am getting used to activities and all kinds of challenging stuffs, but still they use physical strength so I get tired so often. Anyways, this day was a group dividing day. Students were to divide into two groups (group 1 or group 2) and do either of the activities decided. This day, group 1 (my group) did a lake kayaking in “lake Toya (pronounced To-ya)”. It is a volcanic caldera lake in Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Abuta district, Hokkaido, Japan. Lake Toya is said to be the northernmost lake in Japan that never ices, and the second most transparent lake in Japan. The lake was clean and transparent, also fine view, and believe it or not, this lake was published as a 100 famous views in 2008. I also learnt that native species of this lake are: Salvelinus laucomaenis, Japanese dace, Amur goby, sculpin, etc and today, fish that are being discharged artificially from the aim of fishery, as well as recreational fishery are: Japanese pond smelt, kokanee, rainbow trout, masu salmon, carp, brown trout, etc. In the mid 1970, the water of this lake Toya had got acidificate, therefore the population and fish species had decreased. However, now there are nothing left with acidification problem today. I didn’t get to see those fish at all, unfortunately.

In this lake, we did kayaking to the island which was seen forward from our spot. The water was warmer than I expected, or rather it was for warming my cold hands by dipping them in. We saw a volcano while kayaking, and it was impressive, but actually also frightening at the same time, because we won’t know when will it erupt again. In addition, the volcanic ash are alkalinity. Though its pair work, it was very hard to control the awkward boat, and it was killing my arms and back, since I have old bones. Maybe I am already aged person… We were planning to hike the island we have arrived after kayaking, however, unfortunately (not really) it started raining, therefore we kayaked back to the place we started. The majority of time was kayaking, but it is still one of my memory.

Here is a picture of the Toya lake ^^ its very beautiful when the weather is fine.

Day two is straightway to activities!

First we entered to Hokkaido Niseko High School. Many seniors have greeted us, and set up all the dry flowers and built oasis for ikebana activity while they were busy. The dry flowers we used for this ikebana were made by the students who supported us while doing. For ikebana, I had a image of arranging shapes and put various plants together, however this one was simple than I expected, and I am satisfied with my master piece Thanks to all the students for the wonderful time.

Next challenge was to help the farming job. My clothes got dirty and it was pretty tough. But this is one of the agriculture and relates to environment, which I am focusing for the area of interaction throughout this field studies. Moreover, this is serviceable and it is just like experiencing community and service (but I am still not used to it…) We helped clean up the green house, sometimes playing around with the adorable black cat, who seemed like a lord of this farm. I am clumsy and I didn’t work that much therefore I just kept on relying on other people :p We can never experience this in Tokyo, and it was my first time doing a job in a farm, and well, I think I had enough enjoying this job. For the final farming activity, we hollowed pumpkin, as Halloween is near. This was also tough, and inside was very slimy and uncomfortable, but my pumpkin design succeeded I wish I had my ipod for taking its picture..

This is the end of day 2. Three more posts to come soon!!

In these field studies posts, I will include about environment to focus as an area of interaction.

October 15th, our first day of field studies 2012. We, grade 8 went to Hokkaido. Hokkaido is a place where its located in Northern part of Japan, as well as a region, which takes a leading part to island, and have jurisdiction on prefecture (one of a local public body). The office residence in Hokkaido is as you know, Sapporo city. The area is about 77,984.15km², and also one of the island which compose Japanese islands with Honshuu, Shikoku, and Kyuushu. Hokkaido is rich in noted products, comparing to Yokohama. This time we visited Niseko, Hokkaido and enjoyed our 5 days trip, by doing many activities and contact with nature as usual.

Leaving Hokkaido’s introduction, now on to the experience and how I felt about it. When we arrived to Shin-Chitose airport, outside was so cold, and I was nervous with the big difference between Tokyo and Hokkaido’s temperature. After we arrived to NAC, we had to walk for two hours. There were paddy-fields and farms found here and there. As might be expected, Hokkaido focuses on agriculture often, since its in countryside.

When we arrived to the camping place, the sky was already getting dark, and the evening looked like night. Because of that, I caught a cold… Anyways, we built up the tent and cooked dinner. The menu was curry rice, everyone’s favourite ^^. The vegetables and meat must have been the domestic production, as it mentioned before, Hokkaido has various local speciality. But, nevertheless… so cold to death! The only heat which I could rely on was a firewood, but this wasn’t cooperative either because now the smoke hurt my eyes. I have experienced out of the frying pan and into the fire… :p This day, we have survived our fist night with using a tent. It wasn’t comfortable, since I am not pretty used to it.

I will finish here for the first post of field studies 2012. To be continued… Don’t miss it!!

This is a result of my test: