On June 23rd and 24th, students of the GLFP Fourth Cohort visited the foot of Mt. Fuji, and stayed overnight at the side of Lake Sai.
\nOn day one, they went to the Fujisan World Heritage Center and learned about the natural environment of the Mt. Fuji area, and then visited a bat cave. At the end of the day, they took a walk through Aokigahara-jukai forest. Unfortunately, it was raining and everyone got dripping wet, but many of the students soaked in a spa and warmed up! They enjoyed barbeque for dinner with the family of staff of the Minshuku (Japanese-style inn) and kids from the neighborhood.<\/p>\n
Day two was a day of volunteer work. The aim was to learn about the effect of globalization through working to eradicate bur cucumbers, a designated invasive foreign species (plant) in Kawaguchiko-machi. There were also many people besides the GLFP students, such as other university students and volunteers, and they all worked together to eradicate the bur cucumbers. Later in the day, the GLFP students made Hoto (thick noodles cooked with seasonal vegetables) with the staff of NPO Fujisan Club. Everyone enjoyed the tasty Hoto, which they made from scratch. As closure, they had a wrap-up session with GLFP Director Prof. Shinoda, and then went back to Tokyo on an express bus. Everyone seemed a bit tired, but the short trip was quite fruitful.<\/p>\n\n\t\t