NZ Diary March 12th

 Hello!! I'm Hinata.

Today was the day of our final activity! In the morning, I had classes
with my buddy as usual. In Japanese class, I enjoyed practicing my
Japanese with the local students, which helped us get even closer. (My
buddy drew this picture!)


After that, we visited a wildlife conservation center called
Willowbank. I was amazed by how close we could get to the animals!We
had so many great experiences, like feeding and interacting with them.
]

The most memorable part for me was seeing a kiwi. The kiwi is New
Zealand’s national bird. They are nocturnal and very shy, so they are
not easy to spot. I was so excited when I finally saw one!

I also learned something fascinating: there are many flightless birds
in New Zealand because there are no native snakes here. It was really
interesting to see the different species.

After walking around for about two hours, we stopped at the souvenir
shop. I couldn’t resist buying a cute kiwi plush toy!


On the bus ride back, I felt a little sad realizing that the trip was
coming to an end. I truly hope I can visit again someday.


After school, my friends and I went to McDonald’s. It was fun to see
how the menu differs from the one in Japan! I tried a frozen Sprite
with soft-serve ice cream on top—it was a unique and delicious treat.

When I got home, my host family took me to a public pool. Since I
hadn’t swum in a long time, I realized I was a bit out of practice! My
host family’s five-year-old was practicing their swimming, which was
so cute to watch. The water was incredibly clear.

I’m heading back to Japan soon, so I feel a bit sad, but I want to
make the most of every moment I have left. Thank you for reading my
blog. See you in Japan!