An international student of Ehime University from the Dominican Republic stayed with a host family in Toon City from June 28 (Fri.) to 30 (Sun.), 2024. This homestay program is conducted annually by the Institute for International Relations to promote mutual exchange in the region and to give international students a deeper understanding of Ehime. In order to further strengthen exchange between international students and local people and communities, a visit to a local elementary school is also made during the homestay.
First, on Friday, June 28, the student visited Minami-Yoshii Elementary School in Toon City. During a lunch break, the student experienced a traditional Japanese game called “Hankachi Otoshi” (handkerchief dropping) with elementary school students, and during cleaning time, the student cleaned the classroom with them. In the afternoon, the student gave a PowerPoint presentation to 3rd and 4th graders about his home country, the Dominican Republic, in Japanese, and then answered various questions from the elementary school students. the student also introduced rock-paper-scissors-scissors in Spanish to the elementary students.
When the student met his host family after completing the school visit, he was nervous and greeted his host family in Japanese, but when he returned home two days later, he was sad to say goodbye to his host family. In Japanese class after the homestay, the student wrote thank-you letters in Japanese for the first time and sent them to the elementary school and host family.
This is the 32nd time that the Institute for International Relations held this event, each time in a different region of the prefecture. Each event has been held with the cooperation of local residents, and the content has been tailored to the unique characteristics of each region. The relationships established through this event has been expanding, and a network is being formed between Ehime University’s Institute for International Relations and each region. The Institute for International Relations hopes to continue this event in the future to further expand the circle of exchange.
Last but not least, we would like to thank the Toon City Hall, Toon City Board of Education, and Toon City Minami-Yoshii Elementary School for their great cooperation in all aspects of this homestay event. We would like to express our sincere appreciation.
＜International Relations Office＞