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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, October 5, 2012 · 12 HOME IMPROVEMENTS 905-845-3824 ext. 278 ahowe@oakvillebeaver.com AIR CONDITIONING/APPLIANCES Danny's Appliance Service 905-827-9559 ALUMINUM E.K. Aluminum 416-275-2612 ARBORIST Superior Tree Solutions 905-849-6395 BLINDS Emcoss Blinds 416-888-3444 www.emcossblinds.ca CHIMNEYS A.M. Masonry 416-893-7354 Chimneys Brick & Concrete 905-335-8943 CONTRACTOR ATD Contracting Services 905-510-7724 www.atdcontractors.com DECKS Alpine Deck 905-828-1320 www.alpinedeck.com Artistic Deck & Fence 905-844-4456 Sunshine Deck and Fence 905-875-3325 EAVESTROUGHS/ROOFING Roof Pro + 1-888-677-7757 ELECTRICAL D. Sayers Electric Inc. 905-257-3728 Furena Electric Ltd. 905-274-2363 Warren Electrical 905-580-9408 FLOORING/RENO Wood N' Floor 905-338-1881 www.woodnfloor.ca GARAGE DOORS B&M Garage Doors 905-569-9133 www.bmgaragedoor.com GROUT Grout Expectations 905-257-0055 www.groutexpectations.ca HANDYMAN Handyman 905-510-0015 HOME IMPROVEMENTS Canadian Home Pro 416-708-7269 Ceiling Restoration 905-541-5292 Clarke Renovation Services 905-465-5387 Dunn-Right Contracting 416-988-1382 To Advertise in this section call Alycia Howe Cultural exchange to Japan an unforgettable adventure By Twoey Gray, Grade 11, T.A. Blakelock H.S. Eastlake Home Improvements 905-847-7054 Halton Home Improvements 416-543-2081 Leo's Building & Renovations 905-333-5664 License to Art & Design Inc. 905-464-5129 P. Jay Contracting 905-616-3150 Ruby Renos 905-691-0124 www.rubyrenos.com LANDSCAPING A.M. Landscapes 905-825-0813 Cedargate Landscaping 905-825-8636 www.cedargatelandscaping.com Emerald Landscaping 905-469-0658 MASONRY A&M Masonry 647-618-4261 PAINTING CP Painting 905-823-8833 www.cppainting.ca Halton Painting & Decorating 905-339-0952 Inter-Can Painting Inc. 905-469-0092 Let's Remodel 905-208-8335 www.letsremodel.ca Paint All 905-822-9338 Pipe's Paint 416-558-8756 Royal Decorating 905-827-5584 PAVING C. Valley Paving 905-637-0155 ext. 301 PLUMBING Delex Plumbing 416-910-2550 JDMT Plumbing 905-638-0508 www.customwindowdesigns.ca POOLS Ontario Pools & Backyards Inc. 289-242-2518 WINDOWS/EAVES Soften That Spot 905-338-8942 D riving down Neyagawa Boulevard now brings up warm memories for a group of Oakville students. Earlier this month, 30 high schoolers from Blakelock, Loyola, and White Oaks schools left for a two-week cultural exchange in Oakville's twin city: Neyagawa, Japan. Last year, these students, myself included, began a semester's worth of Japanese language and culture classes in preparation for the trip. The course taught basic conversational skills as well as history and traditional customs. The culmination of this learning took place when we arrived in Osaka prefecture to live with Japanese peers and their families. Each of the three participating Oakville high schools was paired with Japanese schools. Blakelock students were welcomed into Nishi Neyagawa high school with all but a red carpet. We were given the "movie star treatment," complete with throngs of enthusiastic Japanese students eager to introduce themselves, take photos with us, and even get our autographs. The hospitality shown to us by the students and staff alike was celebrityworthy. We were invited to go to Monday, December 3rd 2012 We invite you to join our family owners and staff for an exciting festive day out at the Show Place Dinner Theatre Waterloo. We have contracted the whole theatre to bring to you this very special event. Enjoy a Christmas Buffet with Turkey and Stuffing to start, followed by a Legends of Vegas Show, featuring all your favourite Christmas Songs performed by some fabulous impersonators. See Elvis, Willie Nelson, Shania Twain, Sonny and Cher and even Lady Gaga. Two Comedians and lively dance numbers round out this great show. Prizes and Vacations draw after show, plus a free gift for all and a visit to the "Wonders of Winter Christmas Lights" at Waterloo Park. Book Early as we sold out very fast last year. INCLUDES DELUXE MOTORCOACH TRANSPORTATION Legends and Laughs Christmas Party classes alongside our home-stays, as well as attend events planned for us within the school, including private cooking lessons, a brass band concert, and traditional tea ceremony, and wearing our own yukatas (a light cotton kimono). The exchange offered a firsthand look at the stark contrasts of Japanese culture. The modesty and uniformity of typical family life clashed heavily with the brazen honesty and bold fashions characteristic of today's youth. There also existed a fine balance between the ancient aspects of Japan and the modern ones, evident in the disparity between Kyoto's 400-year-old Golden Temple and the towering department stores of Osaka's downtown. In order to obtain a wellrounded view of what Japan has to offer, we students were exposed to wide variations of attractions. Through shopping trips in the historical district of Kurashiki, hours spent on rides at Universal Studios, exploration of the picturesque Miyajima Island, nights passed singing karaoke, and time spent wandering the streets of Kobe, we collectively developed a deep admiration for the Japanese lifestyle, along with enough laughs to transcend the language barrier. Though there were many fun elements of the trip, important life lessons were also learned over this short time. Participants had an opportunity to visit Hiroshima's Peace Memorial and museum, and listen to the story of an atomic bomb survivor. This experience instilled in us not only a great sadness, but also a tangible understanding of the significance of peace. Our friends in Japan also taught us practical ways to live a more sustainable life. We were impressed by the efficiency with which our home-stays used water, energy, and space, and took this perspective home with us. Leaving Japan two weeks later was a messy undertaking, with not a dry eye in sight. The memories made, unique experiences had, and friendships cultivated will stay with us forever. We patiently anticipate April, when we can return the generosity shown to us by hosting our Japanese friends in Oakville. Until then, we are left with the photos, souvenirs, and memories of an unforgettable adventure. If you are a teacher or student interested in participating in an upcoming Kids Speak Out - School News column featured in the Beaver, please e-mail Tom Dykes at dykes@ cogeco.ca. $ 8900 pp Inc. Taxes and Gratuities European Engineering Combined With Traditional Workmanship See full Home Improvements section in The Oakville Beaver every Thursday 1-800-838-1789 T.I.C.O. #50007535 OMCA Member FOR RESERVATIONS CALL Taxes included on all trips. 168 CLARENCE ST., PORT COLBORNE, L3K 3G5 www.casinocoach.ca and www.frontlinetours.ca 905.849.0266 "Building on the Brightest Ideas Around Glass"