Japanese Exchange Program.
During the holidays, ten Mac.Rob students participated in the Japanese Exchange Program with our newly-established exchange partner, Nanzan High School! We began with a week of travelling, going to places such as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nara! Some of our favourite places included Akihabara (a shopping district), Fushimi Inari (a shrine with 12,000 stairs!), and Arashiyama (a bamboo forest/mountain/shopping area). We had so much fun, travelled to an endless number of amazing places, and made so many great memories that we will never forget.
After our week of travelling, we spent two weeks in our homestay, attending Nanzan High School! We had a very exciting time getting to reunite with our host sisters following their visit to Australia in Term 3! After getting to attend many of their classes, which was definitely a challenge (but also fun at the same time), we managed to attend club sessions, such as the incredible volleyball club, which was a highlight for many of us! We met so many new people, made many new friends, and have created memories that will last a lifetime. We have taken away so many lessons we will never forget, formed unbreakable bonds, and deepened our understanding of Japanese culture in a way we will always appreciate.
Amy M
The Japanese Exchange Program featured quite the active itinerary, with one and a half weeks sightseeing the wonderful landscape, and two weeks with our host sisters reciprocating their Australia homestay in Japan. Some notable places we visited consisted of Sensouji Shrine, Nishiki Market, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Higashi Hongangji, and even more remarkable places. We all averaged at least 20,000 steps a day, but that didn’t stop us from discovering the towns and engaging in cultural experiences.
During our homestay, we were able to truly experience the student lifestyle and work ethic of similarly matched people. It was completely different! Aside from the fact that teachers move to students (instead of students moving between classrooms), there can be up to 7 periods in a day. Whilst the first days were hard, we adapted and grew friendships with the Nanzan girls. We were able to explore the local specialities of Nagoya through miso udon, sushi trains, karaoke, and lalaport shopping. Furthermore, we were able to experience a tea ceremony and play the traditional instrument, Koto. We fought through the humidity and challenged ourselves everyday throughout the exchange adventure, but it was a sensational experience.
Lauren A