2011 School Magazine

Internatio . I Studies

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Buddha's Birthdog Ever wondered what kind of a rave Buddha had on his birthday? Nineteen Year 8 girls and ten Year 125 found out all the details for us on Friday 29 April, at South Bank Buddha's Birthday Festival At first, everyone was somewhat sceptical about how balloon twisting fitted into the theme of the festival but we thought if we just went with it, it would all make sense. it didn't. Nonetheless, the girls seemed to enjoy having sword fights with their custom twisted swords. Other more

cultural Iy rich activities included diabolo, paper cutting and traditional Taiwanese folk dancing, which was so much fun even Mr HUPpert got on the dance floor! And if you think that the diabolos look easy to master, think again. .. it was a somewhat life-threatening task to take photos among the diabolo's that the Grammar girls sent spinning, rolling and flying across the space. Spring rolls and lakes of pearl milk tea were provided as we I as demonstrations of different

Chinese weapons by childre, I and young adults. Although it sounds like a religious festival, activities such as the bathing of the Buddha or writing wishes were not compulsory. The activities were related to Chinese culture in general an both he teachers and girls enjoyed the greatly

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I Lauren Woo (12E) I

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Japanese International Studies teachers have always believed that learning about the culture of the language is just as important as learning the language itself. in March, Year 8 students of Japanese learnt about the nationally celebrated Girls' Day, Hihamatsuri. The most famous and exciting part of Hihamatsuri'is the ornamental dolls which fill seven tiered platforms. in class, the girls learnt about the emperor, empress, attendants and musicians from the Heian period which the dolls represent. Although the class was not able to see a full display of dolls, they were taught how to make origami ones instead. For the lesson, each student folded dolls with coloured paper to create different clothes that reflected each girl's personality. The walls of the Japanese classroom were beautifully decorated through the whole of Semester I - even though Japanese superstition says that leaving the dolls out past the fourth of March will result in late marriage of the daughter. Well, if twenty years down the track the girls find themselves still not married, they will know who to blame ^ Girls Dog

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I Lauren Woo 02E) I