Haruna says goodbye 

As Haruna says goodbye, Ryunosuke says hello!! 

As we prepare to farewell our much loved exchange student, Haruna, I would like to share her farewell speech with you all.  As you can see, Haruna has been profoundly moved by spending time in our school community and it is testament to the bonds forged by the Exchange program between not only our school and Seikei High School, but also between our countries.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank Haruna for the wonderful contribution she has made to our community during her visit.  We shall all miss her!

I also share with you our new Exchange student, Ryunosuke Akima's letter of introduction.  We will welcome him in the last week of term.  If you are interested in becoming involved with the program in terms of hosting or being an exchange student, please contact me here at school.  We are busily preparing for our trip to Japan in 2018, an experience of a lifetime.

Megan Perkins

Seikei Exchange Coordinator

Good evening everyone.  Thank you very much for inviting us tonight and giving an opportunity to talk.  I'm Haruna Yamagishi, the exchange student from Seikei high school in Tokyo.  I'm living with the Webster's at the moment and going back home in two  weeks, which I don't want to.  I clearly remember at a Rotary dinner a year ago, Jemma was making a speech about her journey in Japan and Europe, and someone told me that I would make one one year later which is tonight.  I can't believe the whole year has gone so quickly and now I'm making a speech about my life in Australia!

This year has been amazing.  I got to do lots of things including what I would never do in Japan or even in my life.  I've played lots of new sports including touch footy and backyard cricket, kayaked down the river, had bonfires under the stars, had a Christmas in summer, went to Narooma, Sydney, Canberra... and did lots of other things.  Everyday was full of fun.  Doing special things was wonderful, but I loved normal week days like going to school, come home and spend the  rest of the  day with the family.  I am an only child, so having siblings was fantastic.  It's one of what I will miss the most.  Having Japanese lessons at night, playing footy together, cooking together, I loved doing anything with my sisters and brothers.

I loved going to school as well.  But it was a little bit challenging for the first few months.  First of all, my English wasn't so good, plus, I was being shy, so I hardly spoke at school.  Those days I had a conversation with someone were good days.  Before I came I didn't think I would be shy.  I guess that made it harder and a challenge to myself.  Thanks to all the friends who have been nice to me, now I laugh for jokes and something stupid.  I got to know many people and be friends from Year 7 to 12.  And also they gave me a nickname 'Roo' which I love so much.  Such an Aussie nickname.  I'm going to miss being called Roo.

It was interesting to live with four different families.  How they spent a day, how they called me, what they ate, how they ate Weet-Bix and lots of things they did were different.  One thing they all did was to treat me as an extra member of the family.  I've had such a lovely time thanks to my families.  Thank you so much.  It'll be my treasure forever.

It's been simply an awesome experience, but most importantly, I came to Cowra because of the Breakout.  The Cowra Breakout is such a sad tragedy caused by Japanese prisoners of war in 1944.  Looking and walking around the POW campsite and wondering about the night and their lives here.  It seems strange because Cowra is such a peaceful place now.  I came to Cowra wishing to be person who connects Australia and Japan for the world peace, as Mr. Oliver wished for the young people to be.  How can I connect two countries?  Maybe I can make friends!  Making friends may not  sound like anything to do with the world peace, but it does.  Would you hurt your friends?  Would you fire a missile towards friends? Would you shoot your friends?  I believe you never would.  As I said it was hard but remembering the reason why I was here encouraged me not to be shy and to be myself in another country.

Amazingly, it's been running for 49 years thanks to Mr Oliver, Mr Griffiths, the Chairman of Cowra-Seikei committee, Rotary who are supporting this program, Mrs. Perkins, the coordinator, teachers, Cowra-Seikei committee members, pioneers  and lots of more people.  Tonight, I promise I will keep doing my best to support this program and for the world peace.

Looking back through the year, I feel so happy and grateful to have been here.  I don't think I've changed much besides from my hair colour which was black, but I believe I've grown, especially mentally.  I wouldn't mind staying here three more years at all, but I am excited to see everyone again, to see my growth, to see Japan from a different point of view and to see what's going to happen in my future.  I'm going home and repeat Year 12, but she'll be right! Again, thank you so much for the wonderful year.  It's been the most amazing experience of my life.  And I hope I will be welcoming you in Japan one day.  Thank you.

Ryunosuke says Hello!!

My name is  Ryunosuke Akima.  I am 16 and my birthday is January 1!!  I am from Hachioji City in West side of Tokyo.

This city has not only city-building, but also has beautiful nature. 

This is Seikei High School.

Here is my family;  My father (left), my mother and 12 year old brother  (center) and me (right)

Food: I like any foods especially meat and I want to try some local Aussie foods.

Sports: Tennis !! So I want to watch the Australian Open in Melbourne.  I like any sports.

Hobbies:  Singing and Listening songs; Shawn Mendes, Ed Sheeran, Maroon5 and so on…

Japanese Favorite Artists; SEKAI NO OWARI(End of the World)

What is your favorite song? Please share me!!

I want to learn and experience the different culture and I promise to share this precious experience with my Japanese friends.  So please tell me about your culture!!