A visit of Meguro Students to Australia

BACKGROUND

Meguro International Friendship Association (MIFA) has sent young people from Meguro City to Shoalhaven, NSW, Australia, for three times since 2000. In March 2003, the fourth exchange visit of Meguro youths to Shoalhaven will take place. MIFA is striving to educate open-minded, responsible young people through their learning about Australian culture, transmitting Japanese culture to Australians, and sharing friendship beyond country boundaries in the wonderful nature of Australia. After returning from the exchange visit, the participants are expected to engage in grass-roots activities of international friendship, including Japanese-Australian exchange.

PAST RECORD

1ST VISIT
DATE： March 28 - April 6, 2001
PARTICIPANTS： 16 students living in Meguro (A university student, a junior college students, and 14 high school students)
DESTINATIONS： Shoalhaven, Sydney, Canberra, NSW, Australia
HIGH SCHOOL： Nowra High School（Shoalhaven City）
CONTENT： Home stay, attending classes at a high school, introduction of Japanese culture
ITINERARY： Almost the same as the 4th visit


A host father is giving instruction to Meguro students on how to throw a boomerang.

2nd VISIT
TIME： March 20 - 29, 2001
PARTICIPANTS： 15 students living in Meguro (a junior college student and 14 high school students
HIGH SCHOOL： Shoalhaven High School (Shoalhaven City)
CONTENT： Same as above
ITINERARY： Almost the same as 3rd visit



Exchange with buddies at Shoalhaven High School


Introduction of traditional Japanese culture at Berry School of Arts



Exchange with students at Narrabundah College in Canberra


3rd VISIT
TIME：March 19 - 28, 2002
PARTICIPANTS：15 students living in Meguro (2 vocational school students and 13 high school students
HIGH SCHOOL: Shoalhaven High School (Shoalhaven City)
CONTENT: Same as above
ITINERARY: Almost the same as the 4th visit

At Shoalhaven High School

4th VISIT (Scheduled)
TIME：March 18 - 27, 2003
PARTICIPANTS：16
HIGH SCHOOL: Shoalhaven High School (Shoalhaven City)
CONTENT: Same as above
ITINERARY: See below.

Mar. 18 (Tue): Meguro Disaster Prevention Center → Narita Airport → Sydney (overnight flight)
Mar. 19 (Wed): Arrival in Sydney → To Canberra → Reception at Japanese Embassy → Sightseeing in Canberra
Mar. 20 (Thu): Visit a high school in Canberra; sightseeing → Introducing Japanese culture at Narrabundah College → National Museum → Home stay (Shoalhaven)
Mar. 21 (Fri): Exchange with students and attending classes in Shoalhaven High School → Introducing Japanese culture → Home stay (Shoalhaven)
Mar. 22 (Sat): Spend the day with the host families → Home stay (Shoalhaven)
Mar. 23 (Sun): Visit Animal Park and enjoy barbecue with the host families → Home stay (Shoalhaven)
Mar. 24 (Mon): Exchange with students and attending classes in Shoalhaven High School; introducing Japanese culture → Reception at the Mayor's Office → Home stay (Shoalhaven)
Mar. 25 (Tue): Exchange with students and attending classes in Shoalhaven High School → Leave for Sydney → Sightseeing in Sydney → Shopping, dinner
Mar. 26 (Wed): Cruise at Port Jackson → Visit Mrs. Macquarie's Chair and Darling Harbour → Departure from Sydney Airport (overnight flight)
Mar. 28 (Thu): Arrival at Narita Airport → Meguro Disaster Prevention Center

Map 1

　　Map of Australia Map

Map 2

Shoalhaven City is located in the southwest of Sydney.


Map 3
Location of Shoalhaven

Visit of Australian Students to Meguro

BACKGROUND

MIFA has conducted a youth-exchange program with Meguro-Shoalhaven Youth Exchange Program, a citizen group of Shoalhaven City, NSW, Australia since 2000. MIFA has sent young people living in Meguro to Shoalhaven City for five times. They exchanged with Australian students through introducing Japanese culture to them, home stayed at an Austaralian family, and joined classes at Shoalhaven High School. In 2002, MIFA welcomed a youth exchange group from Shoalhaven City for the first time. In 2004 and onward, MIFA and the citizen group of Shoalhaven City send and welcome young people to and from the conterpart every other year.

◆Visit from Australia

Six high school students accompanied by four adult supervisors from Shoalhaven, Australia, visited Meguro from Oct. 1 (Fri.) to Oct. 7 (Thu). They exchanged friendship with students of the Senior High School affiliated to Tokyo Metropolitan University through performance/workshop, home stay, participation in classes and club activities. Regarding home stay, one of the Australian students answers a questionnaire saying, “Family was very friendly and welcoming. ”Another student commneted on her experience at school saying, “Everyone was willing to make friend with us,” while other said, “Japanese students are very nice and friendly.” Thus studnets from Shoalhaven had a worthwhile expenrience through exchange with Japanese in Meguro. Special thanks go to the Senior High School affilated to Tokyo Metropolitan University and its Parents Association, and to MIFA volunteers who helped in the manamgement of this exchange progaram.

2nd VISIT
TIME: Oct. 1 - 7, 2004
PARTICIPANTS: 6 high school students and 4 adult supervisors from Shoalhaven, NSW, Australia
PLACE: Meguro City, Tokyo, Japan
HOST SCHOOL: Senior High School Affiliated to Tokyo Metropolitan University
CONTENTS: Home stay, attending classes at the high school, performance, etc.
ITINERARY:
Oct 1 (Fri): Performance → Home stay
Oct 2 (Sat): Spend day with host family→ Home stay
Oct 3 (Sun): Spend day with host family → Home stay
Oct 4 (Mon): Attending classes at the school→ Home stay
Oct 5 (Tue): Attending classes at the school→ Home stay
Oct 6 (Wed): Sightseeing in Tokyo → Home stay
Oct 7 (Thu): Farewell party → Departure for Australia


1st VISIT
TIME: Oct. 3 - 10, 2002
PARTICIPANTS: 6 high school students and 4 adult supervisors from Shoalhaven, NSW, Australia
PLACE: Meguro City, Tokyo, Japan
HOST SCHOOL: Senior High School Affiliated to Tokyo Metropolitan University
CONTENTS: Home stay, attending classes at the high school, performance, etc.
ITINERARY:
Oct. 3 (Thu): Arrival in Japan
Oct 4 (Fri): Orientation at the school→ Introduction to Australian culture → Home stay
Oct 5 (Sat): Spend day with host family → Home stay
Oct 6 (Sun): Spend day with host family → Home stay
Oct 7 (Mon): Attending classes at the school→ Home stay
Oct 8 (Tue): Attending classes at the school→ Home stay
Oct 9 (Wed): Sightseeing in Tokyo → Home stay
Oct 10 (Thu): Farewell party → Departure for Australia



Performance


Farewell Party