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GCA hosts 95 Japanese students
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Posted on Dec 04 2004
About 95 students from the Kawane Senior High School of Japan are currently being hosted by the Grace Christian Academy family as part of a cultural exchange program between the two schools.
According to school principal Faith Dela Rosa, the program was revived this year and serves as a venue for students from both schools to explore and learn about each other’s cultures and ways of life.
“This is the first time for us to do this after so many years,” she said yesterday. “We had it in the past, and started it again this year. This is a great opportunity for our students to interact with them and to learn about their culture, and the same goes with them as well.”
The Japanese students arrived Thursday and spent Friday playing volleyball, basketball, soccer, basketball, indoor games, and presentations at the Academy on Navy Hill before separating and staying the night with host families, who are also in charge of activities for the guests yesterday.
“We have students who are hosting them and some of our faculty and staff are also hosting, so each one of them will be hosted by a family here,” Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa said that, although none of the GCA students would travel to Japan as part of the program, the idea is being considered for the future.
“We’re hoping we could have that kind of program in the future, but this is a good start,” she said. “We had a great time, and even the vice principal was dancing hula with the students during the presentations.”
Kawane Senior High School’s Tadao Sugimoto, through a translator, said the school’s aim is to have their students learn how to communicate with Saipan students despite the language barrier and have them practice their English language skills as well.
“Our aim is already 70-percent done, and with [last night’s] home stay, I believe our aim would be completed,” he said. “We’re enjoying our time here so much.”
The group is scheduled to return to Japan today.
Kawane High School is in central Japan, and has about 300 students.
