The ‘Japan- Pacific Island Forum Future Students Exchange Programme’ saw six Solomon Islands students joining their colleagues from Cook Islands to visit Japan.
The six students are; Samantha Beuka (Florence Young), Selina Suiga (KGVI), Adova Basi Naloqula (St. Nicholas School), Billy Buka (Betikama Adventist College), Elina Christmas (Naha Community High School) and Jimmy Kaluae (Vura Community High School).
The delegation leader and Saint Nicholas High School Principal, Mrs. Christina Vunagi, accompanied the students.
The six form four students arrived back in the country on 24th October 2010 and were really happy about the trip and the programme that took place in Japan.
During the trip, the Solomon Islands’ delegation with high school students from Cook Islands made courtesy visits to Iwaki City Mayor and the Japanese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs in Tokyo.
In Iwaki city they had home stays, a school visit and cultural exchange activities amongst the scheduled activities.
As part of the programme, they had a sight seeing trip around Tokyo city including the Tsukiji Fish Market, which is the largest fish market in the world, Edo Museum and Akihabara Electronic and Electrical town.
In a debriefing meeting at the Embassy of Japan, the students expressed their gratitude and appreciation to their respective schools and the Ministry of Education for the opportunity to represent Solomon Islands.
The students also extended their appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan and the Embassy of Japan for the cordial invitation and the care granted to them during the programme.
The students also talked about what they have learnt during the programme. They learnt the importance of time, respect for others and keeping our environment clean.
“In Japan, time is very important and everywhere we went during the programme, we encountered time to Japanese is an important factor.”
Apart from what they have learnt, they were all amazed by Japan’s advanced technology, unique culture, hospitality and education.
The students hope to share what they have obtained in Japan with their respective schools, families and friends.
The exchange programme is an initiative of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and aims at promoting mutual understanding and friendship between young generations of Japan and neighboring countries of the Asia-Pacific through interactive exchanges such as home stay and school visits.
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