Page 41 - 2023 - The Altiora Vol 75

|
TURAL STUDIES
CUL
CULTURAL STUDIES | 41

41
CELEBRA TING THE SPIRIT OF CUL TURAL EX CHANGE
CELEBRATING THE SPIRIT OF CULTURAL EXCHANGE

In July, the school hosted 19 students from across eight is a testament to the graciousness that exists in our
schools in Nagoya, Japan. We have been eagerly waiting community
for this special moment for four years, since their last Our Japanese teacher, Mrs Yukie Evans also deserves
visit in 2019. This visit always is a highlight of the School a special mention for making this visit possible. Her
calendar and embraces the spirit of cultural exchange.
dedication to promoting cross-cultural understanding is
During their stay, the Japanese students attended greatly appreciated.
classes alongside BMGS students and experienced a We are looking forward to 2024 for more opportunities
style of classroom education that isn’t seen in Japan. to learn from each other and continue this journey of
It is always incredible to see how language barriers friendship and understanding with our sister schools in
are overcome and to observe how students taking the Japan when we tour Japan in the mid-semester break
opportunity to learn from each other. next year.
One of the more memorable moments of their visit
was when they visited the Elysian Rock Lookout in
Leura. Our guests were in awe of the beauty of the Blue
Mountains and this, in turn, made our students realise
how lucky they are to have such natural wonders in our
own backyard.
During their time with us, our guests shared some of
their traditional activities with our students, such as
kendama (a skilful ball-and-cup game), origami (the art
of folding paper into beautiful shapes), and calligraphy
(the art of writing beautifully). Our students loved
learning these new things, and it showed them how
much fun it can be to explore other cultures.
On Thursday night there was a special thank-you dinner
for our Japanese visitors and their host families. The
evening was filled with laughs and a lot of happiness
as our guests performed traditional crafts, music and
a traditional Tea Ceremony. It was a lovely way to say
thank you and to celebrate the links the families had
forged over a short period of time. I extend a big thank
you to all the host families who warmly welcomed our
Japanese friends into their homes. Your kindness and
hospitality made their stay extra special, and we are
grateful for you opening your homes so readily. This