Outbound HITP overseas exchange programme

29/09/16 – 09/10/16 By Tan Jing Long, Darryl Diploma in Architecture Year 2 After departing from Singapore, we first reached Haneda Airport. On the way to the Training Centre, we saw the outskirts of city which was hilly and scenic. Toilets in are smart toilets. They have many buttons that may be daunting initially, but prove to be useful. The integrated bidet cleans the butt without the need of hands. While the flushing buttons save water by having the option to small flush. To save water even more, some toilets have a wash basin on top of the cistern, which uses the water used to wash hands to fill the water seal. Hiroshima Peace Memorial or the Genbaku Dome, was where the atomic bomb exploded, right above it. Hiroshima was chosen because it was an important port in Southern Main Japan and also it housed the Japanese Second General Army, with 40,000 soldiers. The Genbaku Dome was one of the remaining structures to remain standing post-bombing. It remains in its damaged state to serve as a reminder to the destructive power of atomic bombs. It also serves as a memorial to the victims who died from the atomic bomb, around 140,000 people. The preservation work on the dome was completed in 1967, with minor stabilization works afterwards. The peace flame at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a symbol of never ending human greed for power. It will remain lit since 1964, when it was first lit, until all forms of nuclear weapons on Earth has been rid of. The Children’s Peace Monument is a tribute to the thousands of child atomic bomb victims; Sadako Sasaki especially, who died of leukemia. Japanese tradition states that a wish may be granted if a thousand paper cranes were folded. As a result, paper cranes are offered in hopes of ending nuclear war. Inside the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, gruesome effects of the atomic bombing are shown. Of which wax models of atomic bomb victims are shown with melted flesh, missing eyes, and ashen hair among the rubble. Paintings, pictures and written texts further reinforce the irreversible pain Hiroshima experienced. Which makes us question if the atomic bombs were justified, or done because of absolute necessity. On our visit to Miyajima, we visited the Itsukushima Shrine, the other famous world heritage site in Hiroshima. In our small groups of SP and HITP students, we explored the island. There was a water fountain which is used to purify oneself before entering. Inside the shrine, they were fortune telling and wishing spots. There was a coin-tossing wishing spot, where you trade 5 yen for a wish. There were souvenirs like amulets that can be bought to bring good luck or fortune to oneself or others. The picture on the right are fortune slips called ‘omikuji’, and they help bring good fortune. It was enlightening and I did not regret paying the entrance fee. The deers on Miyajima are free to roam. They are mostly tame except when food is around, that includes paper bags. Crackers can be specially bought to feed the deer. It is hard to find roaming animals in Singapore because Singapore is highly urbanised and so I consider this close encounter to be an eye opener. In Nagisa Koen elementary school, we were greeted by really happy students. Their happy faces put a smile on my face too. There was a kendama show by two talented students. It was only later when we tried kendama ourselves did we realise how difficult it is. When we were playing dodgeball with the elementary students, they were giving their best and having lots of fun. Their orderly singing performance was also heavenly like angels singing in unison. During our fifth day, we visited HIT Yachiyo Facilites, which is at a rural area, located on a mountain. It was enchanting to see that in such a rural area, there is a very modern building, along with beautiful landscaping among the woods. There were bees in the woods, but it is a small trade off given the serene surroundings. We did a wooden picture frame with a rabbit, it was a tough process. The sanding of the rough wood edges were the most tiresome, this shows that beauty takes time to nurture. After that, we made pizzas; from the spreading of the pizza dough on the pan to the placement of ingredients. The pizza my buddy made with me was last to be completed but because it also had the most ingredients. Given that, our pizza took the longest to took, but it was worth the time and wait. The taste and texture indeed “made the Italians jealous”, it was so good we finished all the pizzas. Our pizza is the fat one on the right of the right picture. Okonomiyaki, the food that is associated with Hiroshima and a soul food to the locals of Hiroshima. It usually contains cabbage, beansprouts, noodles, fish flakes, egg and pork. While it is a must-try food in Hiroshima, it was difficult for the Muslims who went with us to eat okonomiyaki because of the pork. This could be solved though by ordering a seafood okonomiyaki and not have pork added. However, there were more complications and so it might not be worth all the trouble just to eat it. The one on the right was at Okonomimura, while the one on the left was at Sogo. At Ishida Asaki Vocational School of Fashion, they held a fashion show for us just as we entered their school. They must have practised hard for this fashion show, and I appreciated their efforts. The clothes showcased were innovative and not as quirky as I had initially thought. After the fashion show, some of us tried out one particular dress and it was fun posing for photos, as if we were professional models. It was on the second day of the homestay that my host family, the Gotos, brought me to Hiroshima Castle. Hiroshima Castle is on a hill and it served as the home of the Hiroshima feudal lord. It was destroyed by the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, but was reconstructed in 1958. While the outside was reconstructed to be similar to before the destruction, the interior was changed to serve as a museum to Hiroshima’s history prior to World War II. The castle was strategically located because of the rivers that surround the castle and the villages which slowed down the soldiers’ advancement. It is near the city centre and after Hiroshima Castle, the Gotos and I went shopping at the nearby Hondori Street. The exchange programme to Hiroshima was enlightening and fulfilling. My host family, the Gotos, were very hospitable. They always put me first before themselves and kept offering to pay for me, which I am eternally grateful for. Although the toy poodle, Chocolate, was not welcoming of me at first. It got used to me and got comfortable with me within the first hour. Its desire to always be around humans make it a loveable dog despite the claw marks. This trip made me not as fearful of dogs as I was prior to the trip to Hiroshima. Thank you.

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