The class “Foreign Students are Our Teachers!” was held for the sixth-grade students at Kohokudai Nishi Elementary School for learning and understanding other cultures. An AIRA member volunteered for pick- up the foreign students at the station.  (No.17-25)

Time and date: January 19, 2018 (Fri.),10: 35 to 12: 20
Place: Abiko-shi Kohokudai Nishi Elementary School, 6th grade (Class 1, Class 2)
Foreign students : Ms.Wei Tong Wang (Taiwanese)
Ms. Larisa Macovetchi (Romanian)
AIRA : Mr.Yamazaki

Association for Promotion of International Understanding (APIU): Mr. Umemura

Mr. Yamazaki, an AIRA member, picked up the foreign students at the station who were dispatched by APIU.

Ms.Wei Tong Wang is learning International Japanology at Graduate School of Meiji University. She told the students cultural and habitual differences through greetings, three meals, between-meal eating and Chinese New Year event (春节) etc. in Taiwan. All of them performed traditional ethnic dance and some students were dressed in festive ethnic costumes. They were enjoying the class in a cheerful atmosphere.
She told them her dream. “I would like to be a bridge between Japan and Taiwan by doing something like making English textbooks for Japanese elementary school students more interesting.”

Ms. Macovetchi is learning International Cultural Exchange in Graduate School of Gakushuin Women’s College. She told about her school life and the meaning of the Romanian national flag which is divided into three colors, blue, yellow and red. The shape of country is similar to a fish, whose tail faces Black Sea. They swim during summer and play in the snow in the mountainous areas during winter. They take 3-month summer vacation. They have a lot in common with Japan such as 1) houses made of fir wood, 2) a big gate that separates inside and outside the house and 3) tableware made of wood are popular.

She was making an effort with her dream of going to Japan after watching Japanese manga “Sailor Moon”. She encouraged students “Do your best to achieve your dreams and your favorite things”.

Ms. Wang told about Taiwanese breakfast such as damping (蛋饼), youtiao (油条), soymilk soup (豆乳), tapioca milk tea (珍珠奶茶), and beef noodles. These made us very interested.
(Translated by Rika Hino)