1973 School Magazine

other etc. All very enjoyable. Another race was where the boys ran up to an envelope in which was written the name of a person and then that kid had to find the person and then run the rest'of the race holding hands. Naturally, me being the only blond-haired gaijin (foreigner) around the place, was picked and tr had to run with one of them. Good fun and I was exhausted at the end. Another group event was when 40 girls from each house competed. We were all lined up spaced far apart and in the centre line were 5 long wooden poles. When the pistol fired we tried to pull and push as many poles as possible to our'own side. The side thatwins 3 or more poles wins. There were also obstacle races that I watched, and the trick was to down all your other opponents so that you have a free course. Another novelty race waS-where a boy and girl ran hand in hand up to a line where clothes were waiting for them and they must don the clothes and then run together up to the next couple waiting - in effect a novelty circular nce. I think the novelty events, which comprised many of the events, were so good - more emphasis should be placed on this in Australia.*1 There was also high-jumping and I heard one boy '' jumped over 160 cm - my height! The cheer squad is also an important thing and all the cheer squad girls and boys were dressed up especially and the girls did flag drills to the chants. The leader is always a boy - he gets dressed up in fancy gear. We had our final parade about 3.30 p.m. and the Head gave his talk and announced the results." Robin Mackay is in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, and has stayed with four different families, For the first six months, in the final year of high school, she did subjects similar to those she took at B.G.G.S.: English, Mathematics, Biology, American History and Culture, and gaduated at the end of the school year in June. These last six months she has found it interesting to do subjects like sewing, cooking and typing. In the long summer vacation she went an 8,000 mile trip right round U.S.A. with e bus-load of Rotary Exchange students - 28 different countries were represented. Robinisenjoyingthe community emphasis of the American school system, and is also closely involved with very active local church groups. She is very happy in U.S.A. '-E!- Marjorie Mantle left Brisbane in January 1973 to spend almost a complete yew at Osawatomie, Kansas, in approximately the centre of U.S.A. The birthplace of John Brown,, it is a fairly small town, and the centre of a most warm-hearted community.Marjorie has spent the year at the local high school, and has done such subjects as American History,Accountancy, Psychology, Stage Management and Shorthand. She has also done voluntary work at the hospital two or tfuee half-days a week. On holidays and excursions she has been to Canada, to Michigan, on a fishing holiday along a lake in Minnesota, and down to

ellias and azelias. Carolyn has five Rotary famiiies who have taken her into their homes as one of their famitry, and have been extremely kind to her. For half her stay she has slept on the floor, on a futon, on tatami matting. In the evening she has been learning Ikebana flower arrangement, and shuji, or brush painting. Her most repent home was in the country surrounded by rice fields. Carolyn is planning an exhibition about Australia at her school, and has done all she can to further under- standing between our two nations - that, of course is the reason for being a Rotary Exchange Student. SOR.TS DAY at YA,TSIJO SENIOR. IIIGI{ SCHOOL (from a letter from Carolyn Sandercoe.) "On Wednesday I heard .fireworks about 7 a.m. which meant the sports day was to be held despite an overcast sky. At about 9 a.m. everyone got into their house lines (red, blue, yellow and white-me) and suddenly the leader of whites wants someone to hold the placard out front when we march on - and I was asked! So I had to march out in front for my house. We all marched on and then came the speeches by the Fleadmaster etc. After that we all spread out in lines and did the drill we do every sports lesson in time to music. When that was finished we all went back to our house area, where a very large mural had been painted and erected. It had in big letters FIAKUHO which means a large legendary white bird and that was the name of our group. Other groups had similar murals etc. Also a small stage was erected where the cheer squad leader stands and the drummer pounds away with his Japanese festival drum. First on the event was the 100 metre races which I was entered in for. They were done in lst, 2nd and 3rd yoarpupils (Grades 10,11,12) and eight pupilsranin each race. The starter said "Ichi, ni te" (on your marks) 'Yoi" (get set) Bang! (gun) and I started out of fright from the pistol. Well, guess who won? Yours truly! I couldn't believe my eyes (or feet!) It must be the Japanese short legs that did it, because I don't win in Australia. The prize was a single pencil in a congratulatory wrapper - to be valued for the rest of my life. There is no such thing as finals in races - once you have raced you're finished. After the races, tlle ffust and second year pupils did our body-building show for the Teachers. These were all the things that I thought I would be in. But as the day went on, I participated in quite a few events. There was a rope- pulling contest between the houses and I joined 39 other girls in our house. Also I ran in the Clubs' circular relay. The Drama Club kids ran in Kimonos @rrying a play sheet as baton., It was great fun. The Boys Clubs' rac€ was the funniest as the judo kids donned judo gear and had to carry a whole tatami mat on their backs - no wonder they came last. The Rowing Club carried an oa.r, the Baseball Chib - a bat the Tennis Club bounced a ball {ound the course, the basketball club went in pairs thrdwing the ball to each

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