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Sister Cities Swimming Exchange Program A SuccessFollowing the success of Latrobe City’s 2012 sports exchange program to its Sister Cities in Japan and China, Latrobe City has recently hosted a sports exchange delegation from Takasago, Japan. By Latrobe City - 23rd April 2013 - Back to News The sixteen-strong party included a team of eight swimmers aged between 13 and 15 years, officials and representatives from Takasago’s International Association, Latrobe Friendly Society and the Takasago Swimming Association.
Latrobe City mayor, Councillor Sandy Kam, said that the Japanese visitors had the opportunity to take part in a homestay program providing them with a unique insight into Australian culture and lifestyle.
"To really get an insight into the daily lives of their local swimming peers they visited Traralgon College, Kurnai College and Liddiard Road primary school as well as Monash University. They also got the chance to visit the Australian Paper Maryvale Mill to discover what sort of employment activities there are here in Latrobe.
"Other cultural and tourist activities included local visits to the Golf Driving Range at Morwell, the Latrobe Regional Gallery, Lake Narracan and a tour of the city’s open cut mines. The students also got to see a little more of Gippsland with a trip to the Buchan Caves.
"There were of course training and competition sessions with local students from Traralgon swimming club at Latrobe Leisure Churchill and they also managed to fit in an interview on the Gippsland FM Japanese Program," Cr Kam said.
"The trip was short but the students packed in a great deal during their Australian stay. It was wonderful for the local families who provided homes for the students to be ambassadors for our region and to help the students experience what life is like on a daily basis here in Latrobe. I think they will take home with them an awareness of our culture, our character and our excellent facilities," Cr Kam concluded.
The swimming exchange students provided some insight into their experience:
Anna Arata
I wanted to see the large and rich nature of Australia and to have a photo taken with a koala. I was surprised to see the swimmers going home without changing their bathers.
Yukina Hara
There are so many trees here and many shops for shopping. I wanted to try lots of different types of food and it was amazing to go into a house with shoes on. I was envious of the number of PCs in the school’s libraries.
Yudai Hasegawa
The environment is large and rich and there were so many sights to see. It was strange that people don’t take off their shoes to go inside a house. The school is different to a Japanese school.
Fuma Kareko
I wanted to try surfing and I also found it strange to wear shoes inside a house. I was also surprised by the students cycling to school and wearing earrings.
Hiroki Yamano
The nature is rich and the houses have a lot of land. I want to improve my English so I can work here as an instructor. The meals were very filling.
Susumu Nakanishi
It is a big place and it takes a long time to drive everywhere. I wanted to learn about the culture and sports in Latrobe and see and feel the swimming training in Australia. The order of training was different. I also noticed the students were very independent here at school.
Shumpei Imagawa
Australia is very green and it makes me want to run around in the large open spaces. Going into a house with shoes was unusual and seeing so many computers at school was good.
Haruko Kurokawa
It’s a big place and I now want to see many of the other areas of Australia. I enjoyed all the different fruits but the meals were very large.
Shota Tamura
I would love to visit many other places in Australia like the Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock and the Gold Coast. I noticed the cars drove quicker here and that the Australian people were very kind.
Yuka Yonemura
The rich nature was wonderful but I was surprised to see the children ironing and making their breakfasts. The taps are opposite to Japan.
Media Enquiries:
Cr Sandy Kam, Latrobe City Mayor
Telephone: 0427 556 967
Cr Sharon Gibson, Latrobe City Deputy Mayor
Telephone: 0429 338 762
Media Relations Office
Telephone: 5128 5458 or 0409 797 498
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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