Cultural Exchange with Kyoto’s Junior High School Students!

Aimee Michaud

 On a Tuesday in November, Hosei University welcomed SAIKYO Junior High School students from Kyoto as part of a cultural exchange experience. A few ESOP exchange students, including myself, and the Kyoto Junior High students assembled in the beautiful Sky Hall on the 26th floor of Boissonade Tower.

What is it?

 Once gathered, a few of the SAIKYO students stood up on stage to introduce themselves and to explain the cultural exchange. The junior students were split up into groups of 6, and one ESOP student was to join a different group for the exchange. The first half of the activity prompted students to present a traditional Japanese element, followed by a discussion with the ESOP student about their knowledge of the ceremony, and about ceremonies from their country of origin. During the second part of the exchange, the junior students presented a modern development being created in Japan in recent years. This section was also followed by a discussion comparing and contrasting Japan with the ESOP’s country of origin.

Meeting the Students

 Once the initial presentation was completed, we were brought to join a group of choice. The students seemed nervous at first, and our first introductions were slightly clumsy. However, as they eased into the discussions, the conversation felt a lot more natural, and talking to them felt much more comfortable. By the end of the exchange, we realized that we had a lot more in common, and we were laughing about shocking differences between our countries.

The Experience

 Looking back, I genuinely enjoyed spending time with SAIKYO’s junior high students. I learned things about Japan that they had presented, on the culture of Ikebana and the ongoing research on MR, or mixed reality. I found their presentation to be well researched, and the students clearly understood their topic well. Through the discussions, I learned a lot about their personal interests and hobbies, as well as how they perceived the world in relation to different countries.