Communitynow Burnaby students get new perspective with Japan trip

Students from Moscrop, Bryne Creek make trip as part of cultural exchange project

CorneliaNaylor cnaylor@burnabynow.com

For a group of Burnaby high school students on vacation last month, the best part of spring break was being at school in Japan.

Twenty-eight students from Moscrop Secondary School and Bryne Creek Community School travelled to Japan with the Kakehashi Project, a youth exchange program designed to promote mutual understanding and deepened relationships between Canada and Japan

The one-week, all-expenses-paid trip was funded by the Japanese government

“The experience just taught the kids so much about themselves and the world and different cultures,” said Byrne Creek vice-principal Barry Callister, one of four chaperones who went on the trip

In Japan, the students visited culturally significant sites, including the Imperial Palace inTokyo and a shrine on Enoshima Island

During the trip, Japanese students taught them glass blowing and Furoshiki, traditional cloth wrapping

But the highlight of the journey was visiting the homes of their Japanese “buddies” and going to their schools, according to Callister

“Our kids loved the fact that they went to see these houses and they had lunch there,” he said. “They got to experience real-world Japan versus shrines and museums I saw the kids light up when we went into the schools ”

The Byrne Creek students were assigned their buddies in November, according to Callister, and initially made contact online

They then hosted the Japanese students in January

“They developed a very close relationship very quickly It was great to see,” Callister said

For their trip to Japan, the Byrne Creek students learned the killer whale song, created by Squamish Nation Elder Latash Nahanee, and performed it with permission for 100 Japanese students

For Moscrop students, the exchange was a long time coming

The school had hosted a contingent of Japanese students back in January 2020, and a group of Moscrop students was supposed to have travelled to Japan that spring, but that trip was cancelled because of COVID-19

But Moscrop has kept up online communication with its sister school, according to Callister, and the trip was resurrected this year

Callister said one Moscrop Grade 12 student told an organizer the trip was the “best learning experience in their high school education ”

“It was such a cool experience for these guys What a great opportunity,” Callister said

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Friday, april 7

Easter In The City

Join the City of Burnaby’s Hop into Easter event, a fun community day of Easter games, face painting, arts and crafts and Easter egg hunts.

The egg hunts will be at 10 a m , 11:30 a m and 1 p m

WHEN:Friday, April 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: Bill Copeland Sports Centre (3676 Kensington Ave.)

Cost: $2 admission

Saturday, april 8

BOBA WORKSHOP: HOW TO MAKE PEARL MILK TEAS

This event is sure to be a tasty affair: Vancouver’s Roots Collective and local café Chatto Tea and Coffee are hosting a boba workshop to teach you how to make premium bubble tea from scratch.

With three courses to choose from (BBT 101: Regular pearl milk tea; BBT 202: Matcha pearl milk tea; and BBT 303: Brown sugar pearl milk tea), the hosts encourage guests to bring reusable cups and straws to make the event eco-friendly. Tickets are selling fast.

WHEN: Saturday, April 8 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. or noon to 1 p.m.

WHERE: Chatto Tea & Coffee (5325 Lane St.)

COST: $20.50, tickets available on Eventbrite.ca (search “Boba Workshop Chatto Café”)

Easter Community Festival

The Point Church is hosting a family-friendly Easter community festival on Burnaby Mountain, with an egg hunt, face-painting, bunny ear headbands and a bouncy castle.

WHEN: Saturday, April 8 from 10 to 11 a m

WHERE: SFU Academic Quadrangle, near the Terry Fox statue

COST: Free

Babytime And Family Storytime

Meet with local families and play with your kids at Burnaby Public Library this Saturday The library is hosting drop-in babytime for newborn to 18-month-old babies and their caregivers at 10:45 a.m. and family storytime for fun songs and stories at 11:45 a.m.

Parents are encouraged to come early and stay late for extra socializing The library asks caregivers to keep children close and respectful of others’ personal space and to stay home if you’re feeling sick.

WHEN: Saturday, April 8; 10:45 to 11:15 a.m. for babytime; 11:45 a m to 12:15 p m for storytime

WHERE: Burnaby Public Library, Tommy Douglas branch (7311 Kingsway)

COST: Free

Rockband Karaoke At The Rec Room

Get a group of friends together and live out a rock star fantasy at the Rec Room

With your new band, rock out on Rockband 4 on a real stage, for a live crowd.

If you’re looking for a group to play with, you can sign up to fill in on any instrument. No Fail Mode will be enabled to let everyone enjoy playing and listening through the full track.

Participants must use hand sanitizer prior to playing; crews will sanitize instruments between sets, and microphone covers will be changed between singers

WHEN: Saturday, April 8 from 6 to 9:30 p m , pre-registration at 5:45 p.m.

WHERE: The Rec Room at Brentwood (1920 Willingdon Ave., unit 21-06)

COST: Free admission