Year 10 student, Inga Foerster, who is studying Japanese, is currently on three months exchange in Tokyo, Japan. Inga, found some time to write back to her Year 10 class in Japanese. Here is the email that she wrote with a translation attached.
こんにちは、お元気ですか?
私は日本が大好きです。せんぶはとても楽しいです。ホストファミリーはほんとうにやさしいです。子どもはかわいいです。そして、いつも、いっしょにトランプとゲームをします。みんなは小学生です。土曜日に私は学校があります。でも、毎週の日曜日に家ぞくとでかけます。いつも、こうえんとかかいものに行きます。そして、三週前に東京のスカイツリーに行きました。ゴルデンウィークにキャンプに行きました。ふじさんを見ました。とてもきれいでした。
学校は楽しいですけど、むずかしいです。先生の話すことはいつもはやいです。そして、せんぶのプリントとかノートはかん字で書いています。一ばんむずかしいかもくはたぶん国語と数学です。今週、みんなはしけんがあります。でも、私はしません。
学校で私はびじゅつ部に入りました。一週に二かいぶかつがあります。そして、金曜日に五と六時間めにしゅう字のじゅぎょうがあります。楽しいです。でも、するは見るよりむずかしいです。学校でたくさん友だちができました。みんなはとてもやさしいです。だけど、オーストラリアのみんなに会いたいです。
たくさん日本のりょうりを食べました。いつも、すしやラーメンやうどんなどたくさん食べます。とてもおいしいです。
日本のクラスは元気ですか?
よろしくお願いします、
インガより
Hello!
I love Japan. Everything is so much fun. My host family is truly kind, and my host siblings are Primary school students and so cute. We always play cards and games together. On Saturdays, I have to go to school, but on Sundays I always go out with my host family, shopping, to the park, etc. Three weeks ago, I went to Tokyo Skytree. During Golden Week, I went camping and saw Mt Fuji. It was very beautiful.
School is fun but it is difficult. The teachers speak so fast, and all of the handouts are in kanji. The most difficult subjects are probably Japanese national language and maths. This week, everyone has exams, but I am not taking them.
I am a member of the art club. We have a club twice per week. On Fridays, periods 5 and 6, I have calligraphy class. It’s fun, but looking at it is much easier than writing it. I am making lots of friends, and everyone is so kind. However, I do miss everyone in Australia.
I have eaten so many different Japanese foods. I always eat sushi, ramen and udon, etc. They are very delicious.
How is everyone in the Japanese class?
From Inga.
Darren was appointed Principal of Sacred Heart College in January 2019. Darren has had almost 30 years experience in teaching and leadership across a number of Victorian Catholic secondary schools. These include eight years as Principal of Mercy Regional College, Camperdown; nine years as Deputy Principal and Director of Mission at Mount Lilydale Mercy College; seven years as a Chemistry, Religious Education and Science teacher as well as REC at Sacred Heart College, Geelong.
Darren has been committed to a lifetime of study and professional development. After completing his initial degree of Bachelor of Science and Graduate Diploma of Education at the University of Melbourne, he continued his study by completing a Graduate Diploma of Religious Education, a Masters of Religious Education and a Doctor of Education, all at Australian Catholic University. In 2018, Darren participated in the Enhancing Catholic School Identity programme in Leuven, Belgium.
Darren has a deep and passionate affiliation with the Mercy tradition and charism and believes that Mercy schools must be “…committed to holistic education; determined to ensure that each student flourishes academically, spiritually, emotionally, socially and physically”.
The purpose of the Catholic school is to provide “… an authentic Christian education, where students are called to embrace the essence of the Gospels, to flourish as whole human persons” and “… to provide exemplary learning experiences for the students who attend”.
Darren was appointed Principal of Sacred Heart College in January 2019. Darren has had almost 30 years experience in teaching and leadership across a number of Victorian Catholic secondary schools. These include eight years as Principal of Mercy Regional College, Camperdown; nine years as Deputy Principal and Director of Mission at Mount Lilydale Mercy College; seven years as a Chemistry, Religious Education and Science teacher as well as REC at Sacred Heart College, Geelong.
Darren has been committed to a lifetime of study and professional development. After completing his initial degree of Bachelor of Science and Graduate Diploma of Education at the University of Melbourne, he continued his study by completing a Graduate Diploma of Religious Education, a Masters of Religious Education and a Doctor of Education, all at Australian Catholic University. In 2018, Darren participated in the Enhancing Catholic School Identity programme in Leuven, Belgium.
Darren has a deep and passionate affiliation with the Mercy tradition and charism and believes that Mercy schools must be “…committed to holistic education; determined to ensure that each student flourishes academically, spiritually, emotionally, socially and physically”.
The purpose of the Catholic school is to provide “… an authentic Christian education, where students are called to embrace the essence of the Gospels, to flourish as whole human persons” and “… to provide exemplary learning experiences for the students who attend”.