Report #2 from Wellington, New Zealand
Friday, October 16
Today was a very cold, wet, and windy day in Wellington!
Hokkai and HGS students joined their host students for regular classes, including science, P.E., health, and maths. This gave them another chance to experience normal school life in New Zealand.

In the afternoon, we joined students from a senior Japanese language class. Together, they learned about shopping and fun things to do in downtown Wellington. It was a great chance for our students to practise their English, teach some useful Japanese, and become more confident when speaking with others.

My Weekend – Niko Yamamoto
Saturday, October 17
Today, I made homemade pizzas with my host family! We visited my host mother's parents' house, where we prepared pizzas outside and baked them in an oven. We made lots of different kinds, including salmon, olive, and ham pizzas. Actually, I hate olives!

Later, I went for a walk along the beach with my host mother's friend's dog. She was very cute and friendly, and I really enjoyed spending time with her.

Sunday, October 18
Today, I visited a popular wildlife park near Wellington called Staglands. On the way there, I played Shiritori in English with my host brother and sister. It was a lot of fun!

At Staglands, we saw many different animals, including birds, deer, sheep, and pigs. I also went into a cave that was full of creepy bugs!

Later, we had a barbecue and ate lamb. I don't usually like lamb in Hokkaido, but the lamb I ate in New Zealand was delicious! I also spotted a big eel swimming in a stream. I was really surprised!

After that, I played a card game called Sushi Go! with my host brother and sister. It was so much fun! I also taught my host brother some Japanese kanji. My host sister told me that she likes the Japanese word "かわいい" , which made me very happy.
In the evening, I called my family in Japan. My host family and my family had a chance to say hello to each other through a video call. It was a very enjoyable weekend!

Monday, October 19
The sunshine finally returned to Wellington today! After several days of cold and wet weather, it was great to see blue skies again.
In the morning, our students learned about New Zealand's special birds and other animals. They also learned about the dangers these animals face and how people are working to protect them.

In the afternoon, we took a Wellington public bus to Zealandia, a large forest area where New Zealand's native birds and animals are protected. A special fence keeps dangerous animals such as rats and cats out, so the native wildlife can live safely.
We walked along several forest paths, looking for some of the birds we had learned about in the morning. We also saw several tuatara, special reptiles that are only found in New Zealand!

It was a lovely afternoon enjoying nature, getting some fresh air, and seeing New Zealand's amazing wildlife.
The sunshine and exercise made everyone feel fantastic!

Peter