January 8th, 2013
Today I went to the Hibiki housing complex.
Nervous and excited about volunteering with Nijiiro Crayons for the first time, I entered the complex and immediately heard the busy sounds and voices of some of the children I was here to visit. They sure were an energetic bunch.
With no time to spare, we started playing hide-and-seek and games of tag right after finishing our self introductions. The kids were really fast, so I had a pretty hard time catching them…
Afterward, I went to the lounge to find Soushi-kun and Pon-chan enjoying crafting things with clay. They couldn’t stop laughing as they made things and quickly smashed them to bits once finished.
Next to them, I saw Onchan-shisho (Shigeki) and S-chan playing a pretty competitive-looking game of cards. They were having such an interesting game that I didn’t want to stop watching them. Finally, I tried playing against S-chan, but quickly lost due to S-chan’s card-playing prowess.
After getting tired of playing with clay, Soushi-kun and Pon-chan decided to read a picture book together. Unexpectedly, roles were reversed as Soushi-kun did most of the reading while Pon-chan listened intently.
This was my first time to volunteer with Nijiiro Crayon. It was a busy visit, but somehow, at the end of the day, I felt more energetic than I did before doing all the activities! Thank you for the fun time!
This is the end of my report. Today’s volunteers were: Pon-chan, Buu-chan, On-chan, and Mako-chan.
Written by Nijiiro Crayons on 1/8/2013.
Translated by Meredith Smith and Paul Haugerud.
December 27th, 2012
Me-chan’s report
Today’s activity was at Northern Hebita.
It was cold outside but Leo-kun, Kiyo-kun, and Honamin decided to play soccer in it. Inside the assembly room Pon-chan, Yume-chan, Onchan, and Boo-chan took charge. Drawing, hide-and-seek, tag, tossing balls around, there was a lot to do! It was impressive watching everyone smiling and enjoying themselves.
What really caught my attention was all of the new and innovative forms of play they came up with. Some were playing inside homes made out of seat cushions (even destroying and rebuilding them again!!). Others were constructing phones out of tin cans and string.
Some of the children had apparently never talked over a string and tin cans before, their faces lit up with surprise.
Then there was Pon-chan’s book reading group. All of the kids were calling out “read, read”, then they settled in to listen to Pon-chan’s soothing voice.
They say these last couple of days have been the coldest of the year but, indoors and out, everyone here was warm and toasty! Taking part today were Leo-kun, Honamin, Me-chan, Boo-chan, Kiyo-kun, Yume-chan, Pon-chan, Onchan, Ai-chan, and Mikan-san.
Written by Nijiiro Crayons on 12/27/2012.
Translated by Paul Haugerud.
December 26th, 2012
Onchan’s report
That guy Ai-chan returned today. He hasn’t been around in a while.
The children were elated and we immediately went to play in the elementary schoolyard. I was so excited I was covered in sweat from playing soccer even though it was practically freezing out.
We returned to the assembly room when it got dark and played school songs and such on the roll-up piano.
Wow, my muscles are really going to be sore tomorrow.
Written by Nijiiro Crayons on 12/26/2012.
Translated by Paul Haugerud.
December 26th, 2012
Yopa’s report
- the Koyocho provisional housing units -
Christmas is over and the children have seen the arrival of their second winter break since the earthquake. Unlike a normal day after school, everyone has their Nintendo DS or Playstation Portable game in hand. They are sitting around in circles competing or otherwise getting excited at the contents of their screens.
Your typical modern kids! Casting a sidelong glance at them I realize, whether they live in Ishinomaki or Tokyo, children are all the same. Stacking up Jenga blocks on the desk, laying playing cards down in a row, …
Showma-kun spreads out the roll-up keyboard and begins singing Karaoke with Kiyo-kun. Pressing down on the keys, he attempts with some success to match their melody. He sees one of the pictures on the playing cards and yells out “Hey, I know that one!”
Another Jenga match begins.
As soon as they were given an opportunity the children naturally found a way to entertain themselves. Since this isn’t school, I accepted the portable games as another tool allowing them to play together. But there’s more than just video games and I want Nijiiro Crayon to be a time when they can share a variety of entertainment options.
Today Ai-chan showed up for the first time in a while and we were able to go to the school yard to play. Under cold skies with snow falling lightly everyone played soccer until they were tired and covered with sweat. Afterwards they returned to the assembly room where Yuko-chan began performing her school song on the keyboard. Naturally all the kids began gathering around, “What the heck are you trying to play?”, “Hey, I recognise that!”
Many of the kids are in the same grade and going to the same schools they did before the disaster, but not all of them. I think its important for them to gather together like this and share a little common culture.
Today is our last day of activities at Koyocho this year. Our next activity is scheduled for January 9th (Wednesday). I wish each and every one of you the arrival of a new year full of hope.
Today’s volunteers included Ai-chan, Kiyo-kun, Pon-chan, Leo-kun, Onchan-Shisho, and myself.
Written by Nijiiro Crayons on 12/26/2012.
Translated by Paul Haugerud.
December 25th, 2012
Leo-kun’s report
Here’s my activity report for Hibiki Industrial Park. Today’s activity at Hibiki Industrial Park was our Christmas party.
In preparation for the party, the week before last we talked about it with the children, and last week we constructed a Christmas tree with all of our dreams hanging on it.
There were 11 children present today. Since everyone is on winter break, there were even a few who don’t usually show up for our activities.
The children divided up into groups, hanging decorations in preparation for the party, playing the card game Daifugo, playing a card game involving proverbs, and drawing pictures on drawing paper. However, by the end of the activity everyone was focused on making cookies.
With so many children showing up it was a very colorful and lively Christmas party!
Here’s a bonus photo.
Yuta-kun and Pon-chan (today’s Santa), both first year middle school students in the baseball club, stayed behind after the end of the activity. I compared my height with the two of them and we are all the same. I wonder how tall they will be this time next year…
Taking part in today’s activity were Onchan-Shisho, Boo-chan, Pon-chan, and Leo-kun.
Written by Nijiiro Crayons on 12/25/2012.
Translated by Paul Haugerud.
December 23rd, 2012
Rika-chan’s report
On December 23rd Nijiiro Crayon held our Christmas party at the Koyo community center. We started things out with rhythmic dance!! Everyone joined their hands together and formed a circle.
People were giving high-fives as they passed each other, or rolling along on the ground!! We were full of energy right from the start. :D
Then Santa appeared and had his picture taken with everyone. After that we played a game of Maru-Batsu! It was a quiz on the people who take part in our activities.
Everyone answered together.
And then, what everyone had been waiting for, lunchtime. We all ate curry together.
Boo-chan’s home-made chicken stew also made an appearance. It was really tasty.
After that was a game of Bingo!! The bingo machine started up, calling out “Niji-iro, Cray-on!!” “Bingo, Start!!” Presents were handed out as people got bingo.
When the game finished, everyone made cookies. Any shape we wanted.
After they were done baking we decorate them with chocolate icing however we liked and then ate them!
They turned out really good. Then we played balloon volleyball. Everyone passed the balloon back and forth trying to keep it off the ground. 30 seconds in the air, 1 minute, we cleared them all!! Everyone worked hard together.
Then it was time for the final present . I wonder what is inside…
Everyone was running around and enjoying themselves the whole time. It was a really fun Christmas party.
Taking part today were Rika-chan, Leo-kun, Boo-chan, Honamin, Kiyo-kun, Mei-chan, Haru-chan, Satoko-san, Suwachi, Yako-san, and Onchan-Shisho.
Written by Nijiiro Crayons on 12/23/2012.
Translated by Paul Haugerud.
December 22nd, 2012
Leo-kun’s report
The morning of the 22nd was Nijiiro Crayon’s last activity of the year at Asahikasei Power Devices.
We brought Christmas wreath making materials with us today because… there are only three more days until Christmas! Under Honamin’s guidance all of the adults showing up at the assembly room were soon intently focused on making Christmas wreaths.
When the wreaths were finished they began discussing where to hang them. The children on the other hand began the activity with card games and mini foot races. They didn’t begin making wreaths until they had had their fill of exercise.
We also constructed a small Christmas tree and decorated it with pine cones.
Even those who were playing with clay made things associated with Christmas like snowmen and reindeer!
At the end of the activity the children, adults, and volunteers all enjoyed homemade fruit punch brought by our volunteer June-chan. Thank you June-chan.
(Photo of volunteer members eating fruit punch!)
Our next activity at Asahikasei Power Devices will be on January 12th, 2013.
People taking part today included Hide, Kame-chan, Koto-chan, Mikan, June-chan, Sa-chan, and Leo-kun.
Written by Nijiiro Crayons on 12/22/2012.
Translated by Paul Haugerud.
