Aiko Tamiya at Nelson College for Girls

 

Aiko Tamiya is from Kawasaki where she went to Miyuki Junior High School. However, she was very shy and, following the advice of her elder sister Yoko, who had studied English for a year in Auckland at Languages International, she asked us to find her a good school in New Zealand that would not only give her a good education, but also help her overcome her shyness. I chose Nelson College for Girls, one of New Zealand's oldest and most distinguished girls' schools because it is in lovely Nelson, which is famous for its warm weather and beautiful national parks, and it has many programs that encourage the students to challenge themselves, both by themselves and as part of a team. See her story below.



Aiko Tamiya in her dorm room

As well as Kiwi (New Zeland) girls, Aiko has made friends with girls from Taiwan, China, Thailand, the Pacific Islands and Germany, many of whom live with her in the school dormitory. Students can also choose to live in a homestay in Nelson.


Surprise !

I was late getting to Nelson on a Friday in August, so when I arrived at her dormitory I was told that she was at Japanese restaurant in town with her friends' and so went to find her. This was not a problem in Nelson as it is a small friendly city with only three Japanese restaurants. I walked into the restaurant with the digicam loaded and this is the result.


Aiko's ESOL class

All foreign students get intensive ESOL (English as a Second Language) instruction in their first year so as to get them up to speed as quickly as possible and into the mainstream of school classes and activities.
Shown here with Aiko are girls from Thailand, Taiwan, China and Korea.


School Holiday Farmstay

The school hostel closes during the school holidays, so the students go to farmstays or homestays in the city. Aiko chose a farmstay as she loves animls - and New Zealand has lots of animals !


Nelson College for Girls Front Gate

Kiwi and international students going home after school


A campus shot

Like most New Zealand schools, Nelson College for Girls has plenty of space and greenery


Morning assembly

Note the boys in the back; they are seniors from Nelson College as the boys and girls schools share some resources and facilities and have common classes in some subjects at the senior level.