b'JAPANThis was the first trip outside of Canada for many students, and the first chance for them to immerse themselves in a different culture. They experienced new sights, sounds, language, foods, and customs. On the Meitoku campus, they participated in taiko drumming and traditional flower arranging. They also assisted Japanese students who wished to learn English.It was just a completely different experience from everything Ive been used to, Grade 12 alto-saxophonist Davis Watson said. There was a bit of culture shock, but once you buy into it and accept it, it was fantastic.Davis said the musical format turned out to be the perfectThe Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum offered a profound way to bridge cultures. and sombre insight into an event that shaped the world long Everyone always says music is a universal language, but youbefore the students were born. The emotional weight of dont really see that until youre over there experiencing it.being in a place marked by such a horrific event was deeply The whole thing is a core memory for me.felt as the students placed 1,000 origami paper cranesfolded by students at Hastings Schoolat the memorial to After spending a week at Meitoku School, students spentSadako Sasaki in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.several days touring and sightseeing. They experienced a variety of enriching activities, including making LRSD students continue to actively learn and embody global traditional paper, climbing to the top of Himeji Castle, citizenship. Having immersed themselves in Japanese culture, visiting the Kinkakuji Temple, walking through the Arashiyamathey returned to Winnipeg with lasting memories and Bamboo Grove, and seeing the iconic Itsukushima Shrine onexperiences that will inform their identities and worldviews. Miyajima Island. As respectful and conscientious ambassadors, they admirably represented their school, LRSD, and Canada.39'