On Thursday, June 20, 2024, 20 selected high school students and 5 faculty members from the Pacific & Asian Affairs Council (PAAC) visited us, thanks to our friendship with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, our international exchange partner university. The visit was part of PAAC's annual study tour program for high school students in Hawaii to learn about Japanese culture and peace.

As the background of this project, Professor UESUGI Yuko of Eikei University of Hiroshima (EUH) traveled to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa last March and was introduced by her research collaborator, Jose Barzola sensei, to Ms. Carol Li, who serves as the Study Tours & World Quest Competition Director at PACC. This project was realized thanks to his kind introduction.

About two weeks before the trip, on Monday, June 3, we interacted online with the visiting group in advance in our Listening English I (Intermediate1).

On the day of the event, the 20 Hawaii high school students were placed in five classes of four students each for exchange classes in the Intensive English Program (IEP), a required course for first-year students entering in the spring.

Various elaborate events were held in each class. The EUH students had prepared for this event by making slides introducing Japanese culture. The students enjoyed interacting with each other throughout the classes, and the classroom was filled with smiles and laughter. The students exchanged contact information and will continue to keep in touch in the future. According to the Hawaiian teachers, the Hawaii students were a little tired from the long trip, but they were able to relax and regain their energy through the enjoyable interaction with our students.

After the classes, the group had lunch at the EUH Cafeteria, followed by a koto (Japanese stringed instrument) demonstration in the English Lounge by the second-year student, OKAMURA Miki.

Afterward, the Hawaii delegation visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum with 20 volunteer students from EUH.

Although it was only a short half-day visit, this exchange provided valuable memories with both our students and Hawaiian students, which was developed from faculty to student connections, resulting in a fantastic international exchange.