A Day At The Japanese Speech Contest

Malva (Mal-chan) took part in the Japanese Speech Contest at TIFA (Takarazuka International Friendship Association). After a typical ‘obento’ lunch the contest started at 1:00p.m.

Mal-chan went sixth out of fourteen speakers, ranging from a first year junior high school student W-kun from China, who talked about his first sleep-away trip with his friends in Nara, to Ms.C , who explained how to make a traditional Vietnamese new year treat, to Ms.Y, who recited a short, funny story.

And she was GREAT! Yes, at first she was a little tense (but everyone is, usually), but after the first introduction part, she was beaming, entertaining, and persuasive in her poignant everyday accounts of her six months in Japan.

Her friends came from all over to cheer for her (GAMBATTE!); she made new friends (here, she’s enjoying a German harp concert with the fellow speakers).

And as always, she concluded the day with a pause.

Good job, Mal!