Japan and Inbound Exchange 2019

At the end of last term, 20 students and three staff members embarked on the biennial 15-day trip to Japan. After taking the scenic route to Narita International Airport via Kuala Lumpur, students arrived to the front gates of our sister school, Seishin Gakuen. During their one week stay here, students participated in activities such as shodo (traditional calligraphy), kendo (Japanese fencing), sado (tea ceremony) and kyudo (Japanese archery). The Pacific students also taught netball to Seishin’s Year 10 HPE class! The biggest highlight however, was the lifelong friendships that were forged between the Pacific students and their host families and shadow students.

After farewelling Seishin, the students travelled to Asakusa, Kyoto and Hiroshima. During the three day stop at Kyoto, students enjoyed a day at Universal Studios Japan, followed by a day touring the shrine and temples of Kyoto, including Kinkakuji (the Golden Pavilion) and Kiyomizu Temple. At Hiroshima, students learned about the tragic past of the now rebuilt city by visiting the Peace Memorial Museum and prayed for world peace at the Flame of Peace.

This trip has no doubt allowed students to develop a stronger cultural understanding of Japan and what it means to be an international citizen, highlighting the importance of fostering international connections, particularly with our sister school, Seishin Gakuen.

Following the Japan Trip, this week, we welcomed the Inbound Exchange students from Seishin, Ikumi and Koki. Ikumi and Koki will spend the remainder of Term 3 at Pacific. The Inbound Exchange provides valuable opportunities for both Pacific and Seishin students to build authentic connections, form lifelong friendships and develop intercultural understandings, all of which are crucial skills in today’s modern world. We thank Ella Ousley, Patrick Swindles and Lachlan Buchanan and their families for hosting Ikumi and Koki. We hope Ikumi and Koki enjoy their adventure at Pacific!