Flintshire students, pictured with the Chair of Flintshire County Council Carolyn Thomas, from left to right are: Lloyd Antrobus, Nick Hodby, Helena Allen, Declan Murphy, Jessica Akins
Flintshire students who travelled to Japan for the 2013 Flintshire Optec Japanese Youth Exchange gave a dazzling presentation of their experiences recently to students interested in applying for the 2014 exchange.
In late July, six Japanese students came to stay with six Flintshire students.Over two weeks the Japanese visitors were immersed in our culture, visiting London, Cardiff, the National Eisteddfod in Denbigh, Welsh Castles, Liverpool and partaking in the daily life and routines of their host families. Two weeks later the Flintshire students travelled to Japan to stay in the towns of Murats, Kawasaki and Zao with their Japanese counter-parts.
The Flintshire students, Jessica Akins, Helena Allen, Declan Murphy, Jake Jones, Lloyd Antrobus and Nick Hodby, were involved in numerous events where they were introduced to skills and practices familiar to Japanese culture. They visited Tokyo, shrines, places of natural beauty and had classes in Japanese language, judo, leather working and painting Kanji symbols. They also attended welcoming receptions in all three towns. The Flintshire students made firm friendships with their exchange students and their families who they found to be kind, caring, considerate and very generous.
The Flintshire parents agreed that it had been a ‘once in lifetime’ experience for the whole family, and they wouldn’t have missed it.
The Flintshire Optec Japanese Youth Exchange Trust funds the Flintshire side of the exchange programme and it is coordinated by Flintshire County Council. Applications for the 2014 exchange are due to be returned by Friday 15h November. For further information or application forms contact Beth Ditson, Japanese Youth Exchange Coordinator on 07786 523 601 or email [email protected]
