International students share culture

More than 130 international students have been welcomed to the region.

The 135 students, mostly from Asian countries, here to study and improve their English, are staying between three months and a few years. They attended a morning tea at the Caroline Bay hall yesterday where they were welcomed by Timaru District mayor Nigel Bowen and entertained by the Timaru Girls’ High School kapa haka group and Craighead Diocesan School choir.

Education South Canterbury chair Leonie Rasmussen was ‘‘proud’’ that South Canterbury attracted so many students.

The majority would stay with host families with the remainder boarding at the schools they were attending.

‘‘The host family is what makes the community for international students,’’ she said.

Recently arrived international student at Mountainview High School Saana Grassham, 17, of Tokyo is with a host family who, like most New Zealanders, have a garden.

‘‘It’s [the host’s house] very different. There’s lots of trees and garden. It’s nice and quiet. I have a three-storey house [in Japan] with no garden.’’

She is staying in Timaru for three months to improve her English.

Another Japanese student Kunita Momoko, 16, of Kyoto, was also impressed with ‘‘a lot of nature’’. She is here for one year and wants to learn about New Zealand cooking.

Twenty-two of the students will attend Roncalli College. Principal Chris Comeau said their presence benefited the school by exposing staff and students to different cultures.

‘‘It’s fantastic the way the whole town comes out to welcome them.’’

Guest speaker Education New Zealand business development manager Andy Walker said the international students embodied ‘‘manaaki tangata’’ (hospitality of the people) by celebrating what the students brought to the community and their contribution to global citizenship.

MP for Rangitata Andrew Falloon thought it was ‘‘terrific’’ that so many young people were coming to Timaru.

‘‘They [students] would get the chance to share their culture with their host families and schools and they would get the chance to learn about New Zealand culture and become global ambassadors for New Zealand.’’

JOHN BISSET/STUFF International students were welcomed at a morning tea organised by Education South Canterbury at Caroline Bay hall yesterday, from left, Harumi Nakagiri, Aili Kozuki, Kaede Moro, Manami Shiraishi, Miei Koga, Safana Kawabe and Mizuki Kuge from Kobe, Japan.

Yerin, 7, and Junyeok Son, 8, of South Korea, meet mayor Nigel Bowen at the international students’ welcome morning tea at Caroline Bay hall in Timaru yesterday.

International students from Japan Kunita Momoko, 16, left and Saana Grassham, 17, are looking forward to studying at Mountainview High School to improve their English and learn New Zealand culture.