Monday Funday!

Yesterday brought the start of a new week at Summer School, which means lots more new people to meet and activities to do! The boys headed off to their classes, some starting with English, Dance and even some raft building on the lake! Then after lunch, typically, the English rain came down. This did not dampen the boys’ spirits who headed inside to play some dodgeball. They were all split up into different teams and had a great time battling each other and meeting other teens of all nationalities. Next up was a team building exercise which involved them having to cross a room without touching the floor or dropping a football! They all had a great time and a very busy day, as they headed home to their host families for a well-earned supper.

An Update from Kate

Every year some of our students stay with the Colquhoun family. Kate's daughter Lottie has been working as a Learning Journeys leader this year. Thank you Kate from this blog post.

Friday .. was a fun day.  Japan corner went very well and was by far the busiest of all the stalls on Court.   People were positively thronging to the site of the boys very interesting demonstrations of Japanese Writing, Cartoon display, tea serving, traditional dress and just general introduction and chat to life in Japan.   The day was sunny and warm and the band played Jazz till the summer’s evening sun set on the end to another lovely day.

The boys then moved up to the disco at the Malrburian Hall and ‘threw such moves’  on the dance floor that all were impressed.  Where they get their energy from is just beyond everyone.  By the end of the evening however they were, understandably,  exhausted. 

Saturday dawned bright and sunny but most boys opted for a well earned extra hour in bed.  In our house they slept soundly until about 0930  and then were joined by their friends from Kay and Mark Saunders House, Kazuki Tanabe and Yuki Kido at about 10am for a ‘full English’ which is a traditional cooked breakfast of sausages, bacon, bean, mushrooms, tomatoes, eggs, bread and lashings of hot English tea.   We had quite a crowd around the kitchen table as there was Lottie, Will, and Alicia, Masataka, Reo, Kazuki and Yuki and of course, as always, Poppy the dog was constantly striving to join in as a human!  

After breakfast the boys went into Marlborough High Street on their own to look for souvenirs amongst the many shops.  Then it was back to our home for ice lollies and juice and some games in the garden (swing ball, table tennis and drone flying) and then off to Savernake forest for a shady, cool dog walk under the wonderful 300 year old oak and beech trees.  The boys found a rope swing and there was a lot of laughter as they swung around like primates.  We then found a little glade and Kate fired up the bbq and cooked burgers and kebabs whilst the boys played catch and throw with an American baseball mitt and ball and played with Poppy.  We were joined at about 3pm by Karen & Zoe Bulsara and their boys Ryo and Yuji and up went the  badminton net and they all started to play .. they were very good. 

By about 5pm we were all tired and so got back in the cars to go home to Kate’s house to set out a little party in the garden for Masataka’s birthday.  We had cake and tea and orange juice and we sang happy birthday to Masataka and he had a few little presents to open.   It was a full house as all six boys from Tokai were there (Masataka, Reo, Kazuki, Yuki, Yuji and Ryo) as well as Alicia, Lottie, Kay and Mark Saunders, Karen & Zoe Bulsara and Kate.  Unfortunately Kate couldn’t make her camera work, the iPhone had run out of battery and so we have only memories to recall of the birthday party I am afraid.  No photos I’m afraid.   After tea Mark Saunders took Reo, Yuki, Kazuki and Masataka up to the retail outlet in Swindon for clothes shopping whilst Ryo & Yuji returned to Karen’s house with her and Zoe.  They had promised to cook supper for the Bulsara family on that evening.  Mark brought the boys home after supper in Kay’s kitchen at about 2130, by which time everyone was exhausted. 

Sunday dawned bright and early .. the sun was sparkling in the High Street which was just as well as, after an early breakfast the boys from our house were driven with Kuichi Sensai to Bedwyn Station in Lottie’s little car to jump on the train for their trip to London.   They took a good packed lunch each with them which Kate had prepared earlier and had Sushi, sandwiches, crisps, water, orange juice, pineapple and raisins to keep them going on their day trip to London.  I hope they liked it. 

The Wonderful Homestay Life

Many thanks indeed to Amy Nelson for this nice blog post about their family day with Koki and Kotaro.

Yesterday Koki & Kotaro spent the day with us. First we went to visit Amy's parents and had pasties and tea in the garden. The boys had a tour of the vegetable patch and tried wild strawberries, peas and smelt a variety of herbs. After a stroll along the High St and some lunch, we climbed St Peters Church. Jeremy our guide said it was the highest point of Marlborough, we were 100ft up and the view was great. The boys learnt a lot about the history of Marlborough. Next stop was Doug's parents house. We had a cream tea in the garden and the boys feed the ducks and fish in the river. They tried gooseberries and nasturtium, an edible flower. They also played tennis with Emily & Henry. Lastly we met some other Homestay families in the forest for a BBQ. The boys enjoyed the woods, making dens, playing football, eating BBQ food. It was nice to see all the ages 2 to 14 to 40 something, all enjoying nature together.

Look out Tokai's about!

Yesterday the boys filled up a whole train carriage on their way to London, here is a picture of them all excited for the trip ahead!

A Trip to London

What an amazing day out! We all took the train to London from Marlborough to Paddington station. From there we met Ema, our lovely Japanese guide for the day, who took us to Buckingham Palace which was spectacular. Luckily for us there was a London bike race going on that day all around the city which created a fantastic atmosphere. Having eaten lunch in St. James' Park with a view of the race, we headed off to the Palace of Westminster, Big Ben and even Westminster Abbey. The boys took loads of pictures of the day to show you, and we set off to the London Eye. From there we took a boat up the Thames. While we waited to board we all questioned Ema about London and its landmarks. The views of London from the river at Tower Bridge were excellent and we got out at the Tower of London. We then took the Tube to Covent Garden, where the boys enjoyed some free time to experience the square and watch the street performers, trying out their English in the shops! After an extremely busy day in the city we headed home, with Katsuhiko telling me at the station 'London is good and busy but Marlborough is peaceful' - Looks like the boys have really settled in.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!