Teaching Calligraphy at Middle School as a Volunteer

Last Saturday, I helped out at the International Fair at the Bachlor Middle School in Bloomington as a volunteer to introduce and teach Japanese calligraphy to middle school students (from 12 to 15 years of age) who visited the fair. There was another Japanese volunteer, Hagiko, and together with her we did calligraphy with perhaps around 20-30 people including several adults who also wanted to try it.

Most children wanted to write their own names, so Hagiko and I coined Chinese characters to copy the sound (and to have a nice meaning whenever possible). We wrote them together with the children, one stroke at a time. It was quite fun!
I also enjoyed talking with Hagiko and Patricia during the breaks.

Here are some photos from the event:


( The last two photos: African Gunboot Dance and Korean Drum Performance)