HGK Australia Homestay 2023

I got up at 6:30am. I can lead a regular life since coming to Australia. I’m feeling so good. And then we went to Australian Zoo. There was a very interesting place. We could see many animals which we can see only in Australia such as kangaroos, koalas and wombats and Tasmanian devils.   I fed kangaroos. They were very cute and ate a lot. And I read a passage about Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) when I was watching a Tasmanian devil. I couldn’t understand the passage well, but after I got home, my host mother explained about it so I could understand well. I felt sad and disappointed. DFTD remained in my heart. Many students bought lots suvenirs. I bought a necklace for my host sisters and some snacks for my family. This language training will soon end. So I want to say thank you to as many people as possible! R.M (Junior High School. Girl) ＊　＊　＊　＊　＊ Today, we went to the zoo. I went around with my friends. First, we went to "Roo Heaven" wich has many kangaroos in it. I fe...

It’s Wednesday today.  We had a Indigenous workshop in the morning. I found it very interesting about aboriginal people. The experience of throwing the boomerang was very fun, but catching it was difficult.  After that, we had a class integration. First I went to the farm and I planted seedlings and observed. I was able to do well because the NCC students were very kind to me. Then I attended a Japanese class. It was a good experience for me to interact with NCC students.  In the afternoon, we played sports with middle school students. I was impressed by the fact that we all did the Australian dance together.  There are only 3 days left. I want to do everything I can and go back to Japan without regrets. T.H (Junior High School. Girl) ＊　＊　＊　＊　＊ We had an aboriginal work shop in the morning. It was about history of Australian. After that, we went to the square and some people threw a boomerang. There were many NCC students who was playing rugby. When we went back, we ...

I went to school at 8:00. In the morning, we had a lesson on the history of hunting in Australia in English at the outdoor theatre. Then we went to the oval and watched the aboriginal man throw boomerangs. In the afternoon, I took classes with my buddy. I went to P.E class. There, we played rugby. It was very hot and hard work but it was a lot of fun. After returning home, we ate ramen noodles and snacks brought from Japan. I hope to enjoy the remaining day of the trip. H.Y (High School. Boy) I woke up at 6:00. I ate corn flakes for breakfast. I took a bus with my host sisters. My host sister who is in grade 5 went to school camp, so today is the last day that we can go to school together.   In the morning, we attended an aboriginal workshop- it was interesting. I was especially interested in the boomerangs- it was amazing. When it was morning tea, I bought sushi at the tuck shop. I wanted to try it. I chose teriyaki avocado and it was nice.   After morning tea, I took my budd...

In the morning   we took ESL class as usual. In the class, we practiced "Momotaro" to act in front of students. To act and say the lines at the same time was difficult. While I was performing, I tried to say the words clearly and in a big voice. In the afternoon, we did our cultural presentations to the students in grade 6. I was exhausted because I did the presentation many times.   After school, I went to the shopping mall to buy things that I wanted. I was wondering about the water bottle that many Nambour students were using. The shop closed really early so I could not stay forgoing. Lastly, this is my last diary entry that I will write for this trip. In these three weeks, I think I have improved my English skills and also experienced unique things. R.H (High School. Girl) Today, I was so tired because I acted in a play and gave speeches.  First, we acted "Momotaro" and I acted in the lead role of Momotaro in the play. I had a buddy in the audience so I was a li...

Today I had an ESL class at school. We wrote sentences about what we did at the ginger factory yesterday and watched a video about animals that live in Australia in preparation for our trip to the zoo the day after tomorrow. We learned about especially dangerous creatures. (spiders, snakes, crocodiles, etc.). We did our second presentation to the elementary school students in the afternoon. This time it went better than the first one. After school, we took the school bus home. I feel a little sad as we approach the second half of our study abroad program in Australia. H.H (Junior High School. Boy) ＊　＊　＊　＊　＊ In the morning, I had English class. In English class, we studied Australian animals because we are going to Australia Zoo on Thursday. It was fun and I got very excited to go to Australia Zoo. At school, today was a Book Day when we could wear a book character’s costume to school. We had a costume contest at lunch time. We watched it with my friends and buddy. Some teachers were we...

I went to the ginger beer factory. I learned about the history of ginger production in Australia and how to make ginger beer. I drank some ginger beer and thought Australian ginger beer is more spicy than Japanese so I like the Japanese one better. I also rode the boat and train attractions there. The ship attraction was very similar to It’s a Small World at Disneyland so it was fun but the train attraction was not fun. At the shop there, I bought a cup. I like the cup very much and I bought some apple juice. It was very tasty and I had never drunk such tasty apple juice. After school, I went to a water fall and it was very beautiful but the water in the pool at the bottom was very cold so I couldn’t swim but my buddy’s brother swam. After that, I played soccer but I hurt my leg. In the evening, I watched a spy movie.   It was a fun day. S.O (High School. Boy) We went to ginger factory today. We went there by school bus. The bus driver was speaking Australia English. It was a good...

I woke up at 7 AM. When I woke up my host family were watching a rugby game on TV. They are from South Africa so they were cheering. At 8:30 AM, my host brother and sister took me on a canoe ride. From the boat, I could see lots of fish in the water and it was so much fun. After that, we went to Moooloolaba Beach. We walked on the beach and went to the shops there. We came back home at 5:00 PM. My host sister and brother taught me how to   ride an electric scooter and we went to see the view on the scooters.   In the evening, we watched Fast and Furious and ate steak for dinner. It was so much fun but I was sad because it was my last weekend. T.W (High School. Girl) I went shopping at Sunshine Plaza and went to different places with my host family. For example, I went to the game corner and played some games. After, my host father bought me a donut and I ate it. It was delicious. He also bought me a double cheeseburger from McDonalds. It was also very good. Also, he bought me ...

Today I went to the Double Island with  my host family's friend   , which is a place that we could ride a car on the sand. We rode on the sand for about 50 minutes. Time passed really fast because I was obsessed with the view of the beaches. The car was bumping really hard. After we parked the car, I went in the water by using a body board. While I was swimming, there was dozen jelly fish and little crabs. Also, I saw fish and turtles. My host father threw many crabs onto my body board and it was embarrassing. Since my buddy was good at surfing, I sat on the front and went to farther places.     I will always cherish the time that I have spent together with my host family.  I want to say thank you to my host family for giving me such an unforgettable experience. R.H (High School. Girl) I went to Brisbane with my host family. I arrived at Brisbane at about 3:00 pm. First, I went to the Queensland Museum. There, there were many things that I could learn ...

Today, I woke up at seven. Then we left home at eight as usual.  We had an ESL class in the morning and we learned about Australian animals. At lunchtime, I had lunch with many NCC students, and friends as well. It will be one of my fun memories.  Then we practiced for our cultural presentations in the afternoon.  The presentation was not as good as I expected. We will have the same presentation next Tuesday, so we need to get better. After school, my host family left and I for the camping place. Also there were the host grandmother and buddy’s cousins. It was a lot of fun, but it was quite cold. We have only one more week left in Australia. I’m going to have fun for the rest of my language training. R.D (High School. Boy)

Today we had ESL class. We wrote about our weekend and watched a video about the first people in Australia. I read about Tribes-of the first peoples. Other people talked about ancient sports and games and weapons. It was fun. After the class, we went to the Ginger Factory. I ate chocolate chip cookies and ginger cookies. It was delicious and I ate my friend’s ice cream. It was so good. I took a factory tour and rode a boat attraction and I got on the train. It was a lot of fun.  Then we went home and we had dinner. We had meat pie. I ate Australian meat pie for the first time. It was so delicious. I want to eat again. It was a very good day in Australia. Y.S (Junior High School. Girl) ＊　＊　＊　＊　＊ I woke up at 6:40. I got up later than usual,becauseI I was very tired. I ate serial for breakfast.It was delicious. After I went to the school, I took ESL classes. I studied about “aborigines” and “Plant Foods of the first people”. I didn’t know about aborigines well, so it was very interes...

  Today, we talked with NVV’s students who are grade 12. I was really surprised that most of them have driver’s licences. They told me they can get it from 16 years old. When I told them the Japanese system, they were surprised. If I were Australian, I could have a car! Also, we went to the school uniform shop. We tried on the NCC sports uniform. It was interesting because the uniform is cute. We are doing cultural presentations tomorrow. We are talking about Japanese festivals and we will wear Yukata. I will talk about   food at Japanese festivals. I have to practice this presentation hard. I’ll do my best. A.S (High School. Girl) Almost two weeks has passed since we came to Australia. Many things happened in these two weeks and I think the time has passed so quickly. I have gotten used to this life. I can understand what my host family is saying and I like the lifestyle. I think this summer will be the most satisfying summer in my life. Thanks to my host family I could enjoy...