Enjoying wonders of Japan

ON THE summer holidays, I embarked on a journey as an exchange student to the sister city of Cairns: Minami.

On the Japanese island of Shikoku, I was immersed in the area’s rich culture and hospitality and I was able to experience the Japanese lifestyle through the eyes of an everyday citizen.

Every day was a new adventure, whether it was going to school, exploring the town or meeting new people.

I was extremely fortunate to meet such wonderful host families and make plenty of amazing friends.

We shared and made many unforgettable memories and I am proud to have been able to go on exchange to this amazing town.

Thank you to the Australian Japan Society (AJS) for this scholarship. It was an opportunity of a lifetime.

The AJS of FNQ Inc, in Cairns, Far North Queensland, is a non-political, non-profit organisation.

The society sponsors two students from a Cairns school to live in homestay and study in a Japanese junior high school for a four-week period.

Year 9, 10 and 11 students apply for the scholarship and travel to Japan during December and January.

The AJS with this scholarship is building further stronger relationships with the Cairns sister cities, Oyama and Minami.