Early on Saturday morning, everyone had their final breakfast at Kaetsu Centre and gave Kazuko a nice message card to say thank you for the lovely meals.
In the afternoon, everyone had some free time to walk around town and do any shopping that they may not have time to do later on. Then it was back to the Kaetsu Centre to take taxis to their homestays.
There was a mixture of feelings as they waited for the taxis, and a bit of a shock for many when they first arrived in their new homes. But as time has passed, I think they have all settled in well.
On Sunday, we took a trip to Stratford upon Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare, and Warwick Castle. The castle was interesting and had various activities to try, including a maze, a castle tour, archery and a bird show. The castle has an interesting history and you are able to get close to the exhibits in all the rooms.
In Stratford, we walked around the house that Shakespeare grew up in. It was an interesting look into the past. We were first shown a movie and then allowed to freely walk around the property. A few students bought some gifts, and then we had some free time to walk around the town and find some of the other sites of interest, including Shakespeare’s grave.
On Monday morning, it was back to school, but this time, everyone had to find their way there from their homestays. With the exception of one mistaken bus ride, everyone got to school no problem.
This week, students are free to plan their schedule and enjoy time at their homestays. Only a few days to go now – I hope everyone is getting the most out of their time!