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NIWA
Welcome to our garden sanctuary where we combine the technological advancements of today with the carefree feelings of the past. We pride ourselves on respecting plants and animals as well as other people.

In our town we greatly enjoy the presence of plants and you will never find a window empty of at least one plant. We also allow the animal life to roam freely around the town because they are all quite tame, but most of them choose to stay in the more wooded areas around the town.



We often hold festivals and other celebrations in honor of special events. These events are usually held in the evening, and everything is illuminated by lanterns. At those times, everyone in town gathers and sets up booths full of exotic foods, charms and ornaments, games, flowers, jewelry, and many other things.

Daily Itinerary

Students (ages 5-18)
8:00 am School starts
8:00 am-10:00 am Lesson 1
10:00 am-12:00 pm Lesson 2
12:00 pm-1:00 pm Lunch Break
1:00 pm-3:00 pm Lesson 3
3:00 pm-4:00 pm Agriculture Lesson
4:00 pm Go Home

Working Adults
8:00 am Work starts (Bakers start at 2:00am)
12:00 pm-1:00 pm Lunch Break
5:00 pm Close Shops
5:30 pm Go Home

The rest of the day is up to the discretion of the family. Occasionally there are festivals and parties held throughout the town.

Journal Entry #3, Oh the Days!

Dear Diary,
All seems to be right with the world today and I am glad it is. Last night was the Spring Festival and I went with Aki! He is such a good dancer and he was a total gentlemen to me. Aki even stood up for me when Hana and Tayla started talking crap to me.
But that is not all that is wonderful, today is the beginning of school Spring Vacation! Mom told me that she could help me with my tailoring. As soon as I can get good enough to make my own cl others then i could imply my own style! Not that i don't love Mom's but I would like to add a lot more color.
Enough on clothes, how should i spend my vacation from school....Oh I know! I should have a party, and I could invite Aki, isn't he amazing!
Well Mom is calling me to start picking crops for dinner, off the the fields!

(Journal Entry from: Nola Ann 15 years old)

Journal Entry #2 New School Semester

The new school semester started and my new class of third graders are so cute! There are 15 students in my class this year. Today there is only a half day of school so after I assigned seats to them, we started our first lesson on agriculture and then their first set of multiplication tables. The children were so attentive to the lessons even though it was the first day of school in two months. I'm so proud of them! The other teachers tell me that I praise my students too much if they get something right, but I think they seem to learn well enough.
It's only my second year of teaching but I don't think I'll ever get tired of it. Sure there are bad parts like when a child inevitably gets mud in their socks and shoes during the rainy season and then starts screaming uncontrollably. There was also a time at the end of the last school year when the students and I were working in the greenhouse and one boy got angry with another and they started throwing everything within reach. Luckily I got in the way of the clay pot and that was the last of it. I'm just glad the doctors were able to remove the splints in time for the new school year! This year, the school decided that until the students are in the sixth grade, they will be using plastic plant pots.
Well, that's all for today. Tomorrow I will start to teach the students the basics of flower arranging.

(Journal entry from overly eccentric teacher: Ms. Millie, 23 years old)

Oh do please come!

Dear Ashly,

Hello, how are you doing? I am doing fantastic! I just got back from a wonderful vacation to Niwa and it was such an eye-opener! This place is a great escape from normal life. They had gardens everywhere and the air was so sweet and fresh. In the morning it was simply marvelous. The sun seemed to cast a golden shadow over the buildings, making it like a city of gold. The flowers full of dew reflecting the light make everything seem to sparkle. It was like walking through a wonderland full of serenity and luxury.


Adding to the serenity, people there are so nice! If your in need of any kind of help, there seem to be about five people right there to ask. These people are 100% tolerant of about anything, its a wonderful environment. No wounder there are so many people there. Even though there are many wonderful people, it never feels crowded. Gardens are everywhere separating every house, like a large yard around the whole house but full of life!

For a quiet garden town during the day, they sure do know how to party! The music is like it is straight from Apollo the Greek god of music. To see them dance to this memorizing music is even more interesting. They do not seem to have one set dance style, some people do a version of ballet, some dance to more modern and some people...I don't know what they are doing but it looks cool!

I love Niwa and hope to go back soon, next time I hope you can come. I would have so much to show you, and we could learn all the more together.

Sincerely,
Rin

Journal Entry #1

Three days ago, in the early morning, my new sister was born. She was named Haru in honor of today being the first day of spring. When the council of five came to visit, they gave her the fox as her Patron Animal. This evening my family and relatives will host a huge feast for all of our friends and we will all celebrate my mom and Haru coming home.
Earlier when I went to the bakery to get a loaf of lavender soda bread, which is my moms favorite, and Mr. Jenkins behind the counter gave me an extra loaf for free! Mom will be so pleased. After dinner there will be dancing and music and my grandfather will be telling stories about his travels around the world.
I have to help Aunt Pearl make the stew now, so I will write more tomorrow~

(Journal entry from: Eric Lynn, 13 years old)

Our Goverment System

Niwa's government will consist of a council of five people. Three of these people will be elected by popular vote. The other two will stay on council until wish to give up their position. The one going out of office then would select another to take their place. Before the can be officially on the council, the rest of them must agree that this new personnel is right for the job. The council will normally be filled with a master of one of the four main professions in Niwa which are: farmer, cook, scientist or trader

About every two weeks the council holds a "town meeting". There, anybody who has a disputed issue are encouraged to bring it up at said meeting. IF the council cannot come to an agreement that day, they will have two weeks to come up to a decision.

As for enforcing laws, this is a utopia, there isn't much need for major law enforcing. Though if there is someone that needs punishment, the council will decide how long and how much. Normally if something is done to another person, the person who did the wrong will have to work or make up whatever they did. A lot like community service, but worse.
This system has worked for years and the people of Niwa trust this systerm fully.