Recently with KSU

What an event filled month it has been.
On November 4th a jolly band of exchange students teamed up with a group from Ryukoku University and headed into the usually less ventured but picturesque northern Kyoto Prefecture to Kurahashi Elementary School.
The school runs an international event each year to which exchange students are invited. This is the third year that KSU has participated.
The exchange students were welcomed by the school with a dance by all 4th graders.
They then moved into classrooms for different events that the children had prepared for which involved playing games, giving talks and singing songs. Exchange students then had the experience of a Japanese “Kyushoku” or school lunch.
In the afternoon, exchange students divided up into groups to participate in the school‘s clubs and culture circles that included playing Okoto, having a mini tea ceremony, flower arranging, cooking and art.
The bus ride home was very lively, which was a good indicator of the fun that everyone had.

On the same weekend, November 4 to 6, exchange students took part in the annual KSU Koyama Festival. This year’s stall was selling octopus dumplings, which are a fav here in the Kansai region. They also concocted up delicious twists on the recipe to include cheese dumplings and olive dumplings, which were surprisingly good. The stall at the Koyama festival is organized by Japanese students and international students. This is yet another opportunity for exchange students at KSU to come in contact with real life in Japan.

A week later, on November 11, a group of 12 exchange students visited the nearby Hokuryo High School. The students at Hokuryo had prepared presentations that introduced local historical sites including Jissoin and Kifune Shrine. After the presentations, the exchange students were interviewed and asked to provide feedback on the presentations. Over the next month, Hokuryo students will incorporate the exchange students’ suggestions into their presentations in preparation for a follow-up visit in December.

Meeting with elementary, junior high school and high school students and participating in the university festival provides exchange students with a rare opportunity to come in contact with new and varied experiences that they would not normally have while living in Japan. It is hoped that meeting the exchange students will inspire the Japanese students they meet to strive to be involved in the modern global society. In October a group went to see a Sumo tournament and this month students will be going to a Noh and Kyogen performance provided by Kyoto City. More events are planned for December.

  • Rei-chan introduces China

  • Alex digs in to his kyushoku

  • Stephan and Dominika take on Okoto.

  • Group at Hokuryo High School

  • Octopus dumpling sales team at Koyama Festival