Japanese If You Please

Boarding pass?

Check.

Overpacked suitcases?

Check.

Sushi and yummy Japanese food upon arrival?

Double check.

Decked out in karate suits, kimonos and straw hats,

several dozen kindergarteners at Challenger K-8 School

of Science and Mathematics took a make-believe plane

ride to Japan Thursday morning.

In the "airport," one student stamped handmade paper

passports - complete with photos and blank pages for

different countries - while another checked in

passengers.

One more ran a handheld "metal detector" over their

classmates' outstretched arms, while the air-traffic

controller sat in front of a computer and announced

that the runway was clear for takeoff.

"That's how I feel when I go through the airport. Too

much stuff," a parent joked, watching a kindergartener

lug a hefty duffel bag past a makeshift security

checkpoint.

Many of the outfits were actually child-sized

bathrobes, and the rice hats were made from

construction paper, adorned with tissue flowers.

Colorful paper lanterns and parasols hung from the

ceiling, and images of Mt. Fuji beckoned from the

walls.

With seats perfectly aligned, airplane-style, the

flight was particularly spectacular. On cue, a

pre-arranged announcement came from the front office,

announcing that Challenger Flight 214 - the classroom

number - was ready for takeoff.

"Please make sure your seatbelt is on and your tray

tables are in upright positions," called flight

attendant Cassandra Hanley, 6.

Cued by teacher Margie Yurtinis, the kids made a "bump,

bump" sound, bouncing in their seats, as the plane took

off.

They munched on peanuts and read in-flight reading

materials, courtesy of the flight attendants.

"We're about to fly over Hawaii. Look out your window

if you want to see a school of dolphins," Yurtinis

said.

"Wow, killer whales," squealed one youngster, staring

out into nothingness.

Yurtinis, who has been doing the annual "trip to Japan"

with her youngsters for 28 years, said some of the

students actually believe they are going there.

"As many times as we tell them it's just (pretend),

they go home the night before and tell their parents

'We are really flying to Japan,'" she said.

Pretend or not, the kids were notably thrilled with the

cultural activity - particularly when seated at an

"expensive Japanese restaurant," complete with sample

platefuls of sushi rolls, crunchy noodles, edamame, egg

chow mein, sweet and sour chicken and egg rolls.

Shane Long, 5, approached the meal cautiously.

"I only want the fortune cookie," he said first,

conceding later that the crunchy noodles were also

tasty.

Meanwhile, Tyler Burkes, 6, embraced the new dishes

with gusto, swirling a sushi roll through a puddle of

soy sauce and properly pinching chopsticks.

"You open them like this, pick them apart and then

close them," he announced to his classmates, proudly

clamping a noodle.

After lunch, the kids lined up at a pretend market and

used their handmade paper "Yen," or Japanese currency,

to purchase a myriad of small items, including

parasols, Chinese yoyos and paper fans.

While the kids learn about other cultures around

Christmastime, Yurtinis said the annual trip to Japan

is part of a unit on transportation, completed with

teacher Joanna Mullins.

"It's easy for them to get dressed up, and fun for them

to try eating with chopsticks," she said. "Each year is

a new adventure."

Tummies full and fans in hand, the kids boarded the

plane back to Spring Hill in style. No longer novice

travelers, they were all smiles as they relaxed in

their seats, fluttering their fans in front of their

faces.

"Buckle your seatbelts," Cassandra reminded her

passengers.