Students to reunite in Japan

A group of Horsham’s St Brigid’s College students, staff and parents are preparing to embark on an 18-day cultural exchange in Japan.

College Japanese teacher Jeni Allen said the visit would include a short home-stay experience with the students’ sister school contacts.

In July, St Brigid’s welcomed 15 students from Matsudo International High, near Tokyo.

Ms Allen said the visit was a resounding success and the 19 St Brigid’s students were eagerly awaiting their turn for an international visit.

“We have a wide range of activities planned, including a visit to a theme park set in the samurai and ninja era, days shopping and sightseeing in Tokyo, a study-visit to Hiroshima where we will experience first-hand some of the things we have learnt at school about war,” she said.

“We will also spend time on the magical island of Miyajima, where we will visit temples, climb mountains and buy souvenirs, and time in the amazing cities of Osaka and Kyoto.

“And, of course, whole-day visits to Disneyland and Universal Studios. The thought of Disneyland at the beginning of the trip – let alone Universal Studios at the end – is as much of a buzz for the adults as it is for the kids.”

The Horsham contingent leaves for Japan on Saturday.

Ms Allen said the students were excited to reunite with their host brothers and sisters.

“They are looking forward to experiencing a day of school life in Japan,” she said.

“We will travel by bullet train to permit maximum inclusion of famous areas and activities as far apart as from the Gold Coast to Melbourne. The group will also climb the sacred mountain of Konpira-san, visit the temple mausoleum of the great Samurai Shogun Tokugawa, explore the medieval castles of Hiroshima and Himeji, and taste the excitement and night-life of Shibuya in Tokyo and Dotonbori in Osaka.”

St Brigid’s College introduced Japanese to its curriculum in 2014. Ms Allen said this month’s trip was the first of what the college hoped would become a biennial event.

“Parents who have been strongly involved in or supportive of their child’s study of Japanese, all students at the college whether currently studying Japanese or not, and staff members who are open to new experiences can apply to participate,” she said.