Being the first time ever that I am going overseas, I was so eager to sign up for it! The minute my teacher-in-charge announced that we are going to Japan, for a musical exchange, since
I am from the concert band, I was jumping off my seat! However, before I could make any decision, I would say that my parents were the biggest obstacle standing between me and the trip, the amount of trouble I had to go through was just unimaginable, but after a month or so of convincing and raising my own funds for the trip, about 60 of us were scheduled to take flight around mid December. Awesome!
I was lucky to get the window seat even though it was my first plane ride. With comfortable chairs, great facilities in the plane, and not forgetting a good scenery, we reached our destination in no time, (although it technically took about 8 hours). The minute we set foot on the grounds of Japan the temperature difference made us all put our hands together blowing hot air into our palms. We were all rushing to a place where possibly there would be heaters, but there were still those who quickly pulled out their cameras and took picture of everything their eyes set on. immigration took us awhile, but when it was done we head on to our hotel, instructions were given by our conductors of our roommates and to save time we quickly went to our room and settled down for awhile so that we could continue our activities for the day, ensuring that we do not miss anything.
Our trip to Japan was not all about fun and games, it was a learning trip as well, we had a few workshops with famous Japanese musicians, people like Toru Miura and Toshio Akiyama, definitely we were able to lean a lot from them on how to improve our self individually and as a group, but of course, there were some of us who were doing f during the workshops. (Hope they weren't spotted) We also wet to a Japanese high school for exchange, even though they were about the same age as us, we could hear a significant difference in the quality of music produced, we took this opportunity to learn as much as we could from them, and being heart-warming hosts they were ever wiling to help us. definitely there was a language barrier but it did not stop them from using sign language to communicate with us.
When it is time for work we would try to learn as much as we could, but when its time to play we would go crazy together. on the last few days of the trip we went to Disneyland, there we spent the whole days taking thrilling rides and munching down foods that are not normally found in Singapore, like a rice set box that is in the shape of Micky.
This trip was really unforgettable, I really felt that as a group of musicians who play together we have become closer as friends, and have also improved on our musical knowledge and technique by a notch. It would be great that we could have this experience again but it does not matter because we already have all these memories in us.
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