Japanese skier visitors

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 11, 12 August 1986, Page 3

Japanese skier visitors

For the past week, the 21-member Shiga Kogen junior ski team have been enjoying the Turoa ski siopes. The 1 8 children and three instructors are in New Zea-> land for two weeks and are billeted with TASCI team members in Ohakune. The trip is the first exchange between Shiga Kogen and Turoa. Shiga Kogen isa ski area in Japan, visited by a nine-member TASCI team in January of this year. Both ski clubs are hopeful that a permanent exchange will be set up between the two countries. Team members have been busy with ski training while in Ohakune, but have also found time to experience something of New Zealand culture. After their arrival. they met with the Ruapehu College Maori culture group, who performed a number of songs. In return, the Japanese group sang a song of Shiga Kogen and their school. On a day off from Turoa, the group travelled to Taupo and swam in hot pools.

The two biggest difficulties have been langauage and food. Both have been overcome by a little ingenuity. Part of the children's homework is learning English. With help from an interpreter and phrase books, they manage to make themselves understood. Food on the other hand has been more difficult to cope with. The Japanese are adept at the use of chop sticks but not so with knives and forks. Obstacles such as poached eggs were overcome by simple ingenuity on the part of

the host family. By placing the egg on a slice of toast, the meal did not have to be cut up. Most of the children have adapted easily, with some acquiring a taste for delicacies as hamburgers and chips. The host families have been staging get-togethers at various houses. When the team members get together they really enjoy themselves and have a good time. The Japanese have a wonderful sense of humour, and the children are as fun loving and mischievous as children from any country.