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News & Photos
Students Make Friends and Memories in Japan
Accompanied by history teacher Dave Harley and sophomore dean Nancy Love, eight students spent two weeks of June in suburban Tokyo, Japan. Each student stayed with a Japanese host family and attended Seijo-Gakuen Senior High School with their host sibling every day, teaching English classes and learning about Japanese cultural institutions like the tea ceremony and judo. “I have to say I was impressed with how easily our students jumped into life with their host families,” says Nancy. “They adapted almost effortlessly.”
After school, students and their hosts had free reign of Tokyo, shopping in the famed Harajuku district, eating sushi and soba, or singing karaoke with friends. They also had chances to travel to famous places in the city, like Tokyo Tower and the NHK television station, and to cities outside Tokyo, like Kyoto and Osaka.
A group favorite was a visit close to home; McDonogh students spent a day with the Seijo kindergarten class. “I’ve never had so many origami paper flowers thrust into my hands at once,” laughs Rosalie N. ’12. Despite language barriers and cultural differences, the students made lasting friendships and became immersed in the country.
“My favorite part of the trip was being able to live within a Japanese household as part of a family,” recalls Christian N. ’13, for whom the trip was a sort of homecoming. He and his family spent two years living in Japan when he was younger. Nancy emphasizes that the trip is not a tourist trip. “The most important factor was the chance to live a Japanese life,” she says.
Abbott O. ’12 gives the best advice to anyone considering the Japan exchange in the future: “Just do it!”
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Accompanied by history teacher Dave Harley and sophomore dean Nancy Love, eight students spent two weeks of June in suburban Tokyo, Japan. Each student stayed with a Japanese host family and attended Seijo-Gakuen Senior High School with their host sibling every day, teaching English classes and learning about Japanese cultural institutions like the tea ceremony and judo. “I have to say I was impressed with how easily our students jumped into life with their host families,” says Nancy. “They adapted almost effortlessly.”
After school, students and their hosts had free reign of Tokyo, shopping in the famed Harajuku district, eating sushi and soba, or singing karaoke with friends. They also had chances to travel to famous places in the city, like Tokyo Tower and the NHK television station, and to cities outside Tokyo, like Kyoto and Osaka.
A group favorite was a visit close to home; McDonogh students spent a day with the Seijo kindergarten class. “I’ve never had so many origami paper flowers thrust into my hands at once,” laughs Rosalie N. ’12. Despite language barriers and cultural differences, the students made lasting friendships and became immersed in the country.
“My favorite part of the trip was being able to live within a Japanese household as part of a family,” recalls Christian N. ’13, for whom the trip was a sort of homecoming. He and his family spent two years living in Japan when he was younger. Nancy emphasizes that the trip is not a tourist trip. “The most important factor was the chance to live a Japanese life,” she says.
Abbott O. ’12 gives the best advice to anyone considering the Japan exchange in the future: “Just do it!”