Fuji Junior High School Visits Copperfield College 

2017 Fuji JHS tour ‘Down-Under’

Another chapter has been written in the long standing story that is our sister-school relationship with Fuji Junior High School. For those who are not aware, both schools organise tours to visit every alternate year. This year, 20 students and 3 staff members from Fuji JHS visited Copperfield College and sampled our way of life, our way of learning and overall, our hospitality.

All students and staff were hosted by Copperfield students and staff so that once the school day ended, they could truly feel as though they were having an authentic experience here in Australia. The tour group arrived from Sydney on Thursday August 17 and taken directly to the Sydenham campus where they were greeted like ‘rock stars’ at the front entrance before being escorted to the dining room to officially meet their hosts, begin the sometimes awkward process of familiarisation and relationship building (an invaluable experience for adolescents), have some afternoon tea and then make their way with their host families back home.

Friday morning at Sydenham was a hive of activity as the official welcome assembly took place. Of course, there were many speeches and exchanging of gifts but what stood out for me was the way in which our students took centre stage; not only with their performances but also with their assembly hosting and translations. All students involved are a credit to the school as are our Performing Arts, Student Leadership and Japanese language teachers who prepared them prior and supported them during the assembly.

Later that morning, Mr Damoulakis took our guests and hosts out to the oval to give them a lesson in the finer (or should that be coarser…) art of Australian Rules football. The weather didn’t help as the conditions were freezing. Our hosts also were treated to a food sampling lesson with Ms Maric at Delahey and a follow up language lesson with Ms. Capp and Mr. Wilson. The rest of the day was spent back at the campuses of their hosts.

All visitors spent time with their hosts over the weekend. As I took my guest (Mr. Shogo Mochizuki) around the city, we bumped into one of our students and their guest doing some city sight-seeing as well. Apparently, Victoria Market was the place to be on the Saturday afternoon and the souvenir stalls did a roaring trade.

On the Monday, guests and hosts were taken on an excursion to Sovereign Hill and the Ballarat Wildlife Park. The mine tour in particular was a highlight of our time at Sovereign Hill, as was the candle making workshop. It goes without saying that when most foreigners think of Australia, they think of kangaroos and koalas. There was no need to manufacture any excitement when our guests saw these native animals up close and personal for the first time. Their reaction was priceless, especially when a little ‘joey’ popped its head out of mum’s pouch.

Monday night for the Fuji JHS staff was a dinner with the Copperfield principals, Japanese teachers and other members of the ‘Fuji’ family to celebrate all that is worth continuing with our 20 odd year relationship. All three Fuji JHS staff members have emailed me since returning back to Japan and reinforced what an unbelievable and unique experience it was for them as much as it was for their students. They are eternally grateful for the manner in which we gave them something they’ll never forget.

Sadly, Tuesday marked the last day of the visit. After spending the morning with their hosts in classes, everybody came together at 12:00 in the Study Centre at Delahey for a whole group activity/lesson facilitated by Ms Capp and Ms. Matsuzaki. It was such a perfect way of solidifying these new formed relationships that began a few days earlier. With the lesson over and a farewell lunch to be had, it was time to say goodbye. Farewell speeches were made as were a couple of indigenous performances from Travis and Khyl Meldrum to conclude the study tour in a very uplifting and culturally relevant manner.

This study tour could not have been as successful as it was without the support of so many people and of course, our host families. Trying to thank them all will be too difficult. I have thanked them all several times privately and am forever grateful that such a complex undertaking which I led was made so much more manageable because of their passion and commitment to the Fuji sister-school program. Thank you again!

Renato Carinci

Fuji sister-school leader