Special Hina Festival

I worked as a volunteer at the Japanese Culture Center. Our purposed communicate with local Girl's scouts and tell them about Japanese culture such a Hina festival, ohajiki and so on. I was looking forward to meeting them, because I like playing children and I use to belonged to Girl scouts in Japan, so I felt an affinity for them. I wore Yukata! but I was ashamed to say that I couldn't put on Yukata by my self so I woke up early. I went to my friend's dormitory and I was dressed in my Yukata by my friend. Nowadays fewer Japanese can't put on a Yukata by them selves ofcouse including me. I want to be able to put on a Yukata and Kimono by my self someday.

When the Girl scouts were coming we had good time with the Girl scouts when they came shouts of joy. First of all we introduced our selves a little. The children stared at me. I was a little bit nervous and then we sung two songs "Uresii Hinamatsuri" and "Harugakita". When I was singing "Uresii Hinamatsuri", The children looked confused. I thought that they felt it in strange melody. When they tried to sing "Harugakita", I was happy!


We divided into 4 groups. One group help the students get the dressed Yukata. The another group did origami, a third group did Calligraphy with the students, and forth group had a exhibit tour in the JCC. My part was Exhibit Tour. I introduced Hina doll and Japanese traditional games to them such as otedama and ohajiki, but an accident happened. When one of the girl's mother asked me, "What dose Hina mean?". At the moment we flinched because we didin't know how to answer. I felt really pitiful because I couldn't understand clearly even my own country. I should have study harder. Incidentally "Hina" means the words used to use instead of doll in the Heian era. I'll study more about my country absolutely in the future.

We also played otedama and ohajiki with the children. Girls looked like they were having fun. America has game such as ohajiki. It's seems to be liked a game call marbles. I was surprised to hear that. Finally, the time came to end. I was sad when I said good-bye to girls because I had a good time with them. They hagged me tightly at last. How lovely! I thought it was a good opportunity because I learned various things through this! I'll study about my country and I want to know about my country! Probably I have to say "I should!".