A Trade of Culture: Visitation From Nagoya

On the 8th of August, 2024, a group of Japanese exchange students from Nagoya visited Han Chiang High School. The visiting institutions included Wakamiya Commercial High School, Nagoya Commercial High School, Seiryo High School and the Nagoya City Board of Education.

The visiting students included Inoue Rio, Odani Rera, Yamada Shiori, Okura Takemaru, Kito Satsuki and Murase Yura (Seiryo High School), Kamishida Mieri, Kawai Kazuha, Kozuka Mayu, Kondo Nozoha, Saito Nana, Teranishi Karde and Sago Mihiro (Wakamiya Commercial High School), and Ito Ayu, Niwa Hatsune, Tsuruda Kana, Matsui Rion, Fujimura Kokoa, Kawagishi Riho and Isaji Yuri. (Nagoya Commercial High School)

The exchange students and teachers arrived at Han Chiang High School at 9 a.m. and were warmly welcomed by Han Chiang High School’s headmistress, Madam Kung Bee Lee. Following the warm welcome, they participated in a photo shoot in front of Mr Lim Lean Teng’s statue, followed by a video presentation. Next, Madam Kung was invited to deliver a short speech, in which she introduced the school and thanked everyone who participated in this exchange program. Madam Kung briefly explained that Han Chiang High School is a unique school that has enrolled students from various countries, such as Korea, Indonesia, Thailand and China. She also hopes this activity will strengthen the friendship between the Nagoya City Board of Education and Han Chiang High School while fostering great interaction and cultural exchange among the students.

Subsequently, the Advisor of the Japanese Cultural Centre, USM, Professor Soeda Masatoshi delivered his speech, followed by another speech from a student representative. The souvenir presentation ceremony commenced shortly after, which was complemented by a wonderful performance from Han Chiang High School’s Chinese Orchestra. Before moving on to the student activities, the Nagoya City Board of Education students performed a breathtaking Bon Dance for everyone, captivating everyone’s attention.

At 10.30 a.m., the Nagoya City students conducted an origami and Kendama activity. After the eye-opening experience, everyone was treated to lunch. This was followed by a visit to Han Chiang High School’s Chinese Heritage Centre, which allowed the exchange students to explore and discover the history of Han Chiang High School.

At 2p.m, the exchange students were allowed to participate in the different co-curricular activities that Han Chiang High School has to offer, such as the 24 Season Drums, Diabolo, Chinese Traditional Dance and Chinese Orchestra, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of each activity. Their visit for the day concluded at 3.45 p.m.

Their visit continued the next day, on the 9th of August 2024. The exchange students participated in the Han Chiang High School Sharing Classroom Education, where they shared a classroom with the class of SE12. The exchange students arrived at 8.30 a.m. and had classes with the Han Chiang students until recess. Subsequently, several science experiments were conducted with the exchange students, offering them a chance to engage in hands-on learning. After lunch, the exchange students visited Han Chiang High School’s library, which offered a variety of books in different languages. The library also features an array of monitors and computers, which allows students to research information needed for academic purposes. The program concluded successfully at 1.55 p.m. sharp after another shared classroom session.

Interviews

During an interview with the visiting school’s students, several of them commented on the friendliness and humbleness of the Han Chiang High School students. They greatly enjoyed speaking and interacting with one another while exchanging their knowledge about their different cultures. Students of the schools shared that they had found Malaysians to be very welcoming and kind, and also expressed their amazement at how the headmistress spent time getting close with Han Chiang High School’s students despite her busy schedule. Moreover, many students also expressed their satisfaction with the performance by the Chinese Orchestra, as it was very interesting and uncommonly found in their country.

When the teachers were interviewed, Akagawa Koichi from Wakamiya Commercial High School and Adachi Satoshi from Seiryo High School shared that it was a valuable experience for all the students and teachers, and hopes to participate in events similar to this in the future. They further expressed their contentment with the students’ enthusiasm for each other’s cultures, mentioning that learning about different cultures abroad is crucial to the students. Lastly, they expressed their appreciation and gratitude to Han Chiang High School for the wonderful opportunity for such a memorable experience.