Five students from Rehabilitation College Shimane, Japan, received an educational lesson on the kindness of Newfoundlanders during a trip to Musgravetown the last week of August.

Tsuyoshi Shimizu, Masahiro Mizukami, Akiko Furuya, Atsuko Tokunaga and Hiroko Maeda accompanied their English teacher Renae Ivany, a native of Musgravetown.

Mr. Shimizu and Mr. Mizukami are studying to be physiotherpaists while Ms. Furuya, Ms. Tokunaga and Ms. Maeda are studying to become speech therapists. They arrived on The Rock Aug. 26 and returned to Japan Sept. 7.

Their visit to Newfoundland included tours of hospitals in St. John's and the St. Pat's Seniors Home in the capital city.

Ms. Ivany said the students, who all can speak a bit of English, interviewed people in their profession at the places they visited.

"A lot of ideas and concepts toward the disabled are much more adavnced here in Canada than they are in Japan and we have a lot more barrier free zones," Ms. Ivany said. "I wanted to show them that.

Shimane is a small rural town about the same size as Musgravetown.

"Everybody thinks we're from Tokyo, but we're not," she said. "We're down in a small town ourselves."

Ms. Ivany went to Japan seven years ago to teach English. Its always been a dream of hers to be a teacher.

"I think I've always wanted to be a teacher," she said. "I originally wanted to teach French and now this offers extra challenges. I have to teach medical english. It's interesting."

Ms. Ivany said she didn't know what to expect when she first went to Asia to teach. There are several differences between here and there, with language the obvious one.

"I did want to learn the language and I did want to travel around Asia," Ms. Ivany said. "There are more customs, routines that you must follow over there."

She added she felt right at home in Japan because the people are so kind.

"When you go to Japan, it's a lot like Newfoundland," she explained. "They'll take you in, give you tea and let you sleep there, do all sorts of things, give you presents and send you off on your way.

IMPRESSIONS

The hosts families for the Japanese students were Judy and Wade Peddle, Kay and Walt Young and Patsy and Dorman Humby. All are aunts and uncles to Ms. Ivany.

Ms. Furuya said everything is bigger in Newfoundland than in Japan.

"Everything is big, houses, roads and shops," she said. "Everyone is kind, very kind.

"Everybody in same yard. My host family has everyone living near house."

Mr. Shimizu said the one thing he particularly enjoyed about Newfoundland was the beer. He also commented on the friendliness of the people.

"People are very kind," he said. "Newfoundlanders are very patient in communicating with us."

Some of the activities the group enjoyed was shopping, whale watching and horseback riding. They nalso toured the histporic ntown of Trinity.

Ms. Maeda was amazed to catch a glimpse of a whale as its tail disappeared beneath the sea.

"I was amazed at just seeing it," she said.

Mr. Shimizu said he really wanted to see an Iceberg. The only one around Newfoundland at the timewas in Harry's Harbour, near Springdale, but they didn't have time to travel that far.

The three girls said they enjoy Newfoundland and Canadian music, especially the music of Great Big Sea, Celtic Connection, Sugar Jones and Nelly Furtado.

"It's really rhythmical," Ms. Maeda, 21, said. "It's dancy."

"Really great," Ms. Tokunaga, 23, said of Great Big Sea's music.

As they listened to Great Big Sea, Ms. Tokunaga and Ms. Furuya were introduced to the concept of 'merry mack', where the singer sings a chorus and then the audience repeats it.

"It would be fun to participate in like a (live) merry mack," Ms. Furuya said.

Ms. Ivany planned to take the group to George St. in downtown St. John's to listen to more live music, play some pool and perhaps stop by an Irish Pub.

"If possible, I'm going to make them dance," she added.

All five students said they'll be sad to leave the nice people of Newfoundland behind on Sept. 7. But they'll have plenty of souvenirs, including pictures, to remember their trip to Canada's East Coast.

"Of course, it'll be very, very sad," Ms. Tokunaga said, adding she wants to marry a Newfoundlander.

"I want to come back," Ms. Furuya added.

Mrs. Humby, one of the hosts, said their departure will also be sad for the host families.

"It's an experience we'll never forget," Mrs. Humby said. "It's like my children are leaving home again."

Ms. Maeda said she really felt at home with her host family.

"It's like my family, they make me feel at home. I want to come back soon."