１年の留学を終えて、生徒が帰国してから６日。

ある緊張感をもって久々に母校に登校したことでしょう。学芸館には、DHSの生徒が二人お世話になっています。出会ったら、お互いに特別な感慨があることでしょう！

静かになってしまったDHSでは、来年来る生徒たちを迎え入れるために９年生が “I’d like to be ICET students’ Mentor next year”と言って、毎日何人もオフィスに用紙をもらいに来ます。友達になる絶好のチャンスだ、と。

数年前、そんなふうにして日本からの留学生を迎え入れてくれ、そして、自らも日本に短期研修で行ったJordan Lew君が、その体験と生まれた友情について語ってくれました。来年の「留学のその後」の特集に掲載される予定のものですが、彼がFacebookに投稿しましたので、こちらでもご紹介しましょう。

Earlier this month I was asked to write a statement about my experiences with in Japan and with the ICET students before and after my scholarship. This is it below, and once again I wish to thank all those who make these incredible opportunities availble:

“I was lucky enough to experience both sides of the ICET experience coin. My first two ICET friends were Tsubasa Miyake and Yuki Ueno who were starting out in year 10 during 2011, and I can confidently speak on behalf of all my peers in stating that the ICET program, experience and interactions were amongst some of the most valued experiences of our High School Education. Australia is a highly multicultural nation, however the Northern Beaches has the highest concentration of Anglo-Saxon decent in Australia, and what are left with is a unique situation where the positive multicultural attitude is present but actual multicultural interactions are scarce.

Thus watching and experiencing Tsubasa and Yuki grow was truly sensational. They each had different study, recreational and culinary interests, and became valued friends amongst my social group. Yuki like me, was interested in martial arts, Tsubasa on the other hand I learned has read the bible purely because the idea of theology interests him.

However the pinnacle of my ICET experience came when I was selected to receive the 2011 ICET scholarship, and to visit, study and live in the rural (by comparison to megacities such as Tokyo) city of Okayama living with the Seiya Tsuji and his family. Only then could I truly appreciate the difficulty ICET students undertake. Culture shock, defined as “the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone when they are suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.” is a very real thing, it is scary, and it challenges oneself emotionally and psychologically. Luckily in Japan, many people speak English. Unfortunately for the ICET students, not many people in Australia speak Japanese, and whilst confining oneself to the host language is definitely the easiest way to learn, it is challenging, frustrating, and at times frightening.

The contrast between Japan and Australia is huge, from the daily schedule, to stringent etiquette – walking whilst drinking is considered impolite, to the education system which focuses on rote learning over Australia’s critical thinking, and thus the students who make that jump for 1 or 3 years deserve immense recognition for their brevity, courage, determination, persistence and intelligence. I think and reflect on my ICET experiences both domestic and international daily, as it has been one of the largest contributors who I am as a person, and my outlook on the world.

Fortunately in 2014 we live in a technologically savvy world, where the internet, Facebook and Skype removes complications such as geographical distance, time zones and at times language barriers. I have added virtually each and every ICET student I have met through my travels and experiences, and even saw Yuki and Seiya upon their subsequent returns to Australia, and this makes me unquestionably lucky, as my ICET experience never did, and never will end.

I wish future ICET students the very best of luck with their travels, experiences and study, and encourage everyone to visit Japan someday.”

ICETのプログラム、また、それを通る生徒たちの体験のエッセンスが凝縮されています。Thank you, Jordan!

こんな友情がたくさん、20年前から、ふたつの国をまたがって続いています。生まれた友情は、大事に未来に持って行きましょうね。何年も、何十年も続くように。

これからもたくさん新しい友情が生まれることでしょう。