On March 26th, 14 students at Okayama University of Science (OUS) took time out of their spring vacations to join an online Zoom meeting to present their experiences from their travels abroad. The meeting was the third and final part of the program, preceded by a pre-orientation session and overseas training programs.
The presentations focused on three topics:

1. Memorable Experiences and Learning

Sri Lanka

• Watching the Perahara Festival parade with my homestay host Dulina. People in lovely costumes and dozens of elephants paraded through Colombo at night.
• There is an abundance of nature and the coexistence of people with animals throughout the country, including in the capital city of Colombo.
• The preciousness and importance of water resources.

Taiwan

• Rich history and culture, particularly the food culture.
• Two Chihlee University of Science and Technology students showed kindness during an emergency when a friend fell ill. They helped us get the medicine needed so my friend could get well. They also showed concern for my physical condition.
• We visited Jinshan, which is famous for its sweet potatoes. The town suffered from depopulation, making it difficult to sustain itself. To solve these problems, the residents transformed the sweet potato business into a versatile service industry to attract tourists, thereby increasing the town's vitality and income.

Philippines

• The Philippines is a country where people from all walks of life interact with each other. The word "Bayanihan," which means mutual help, is a cultural tradition shared by the country's youth and elderly.
• Many homeless people and children were begging for money on the streets, something rarely seen in Japan, when riding a public vehicle called a “Jeepney,” people handed the fare to the person next to them to give to the driver. Filipinos have a culture that values mutual help and trust.

 
2.  Please write about why you feel the way you do in (1).
 
Sri Lanka

• Although conditioning and husbandry training happen in Japan's zoos, it is considered dangerous to approach large animals without restraints or anesthesia. The trusting relationship between Sri Lankans and elephants was so mysterious and unbelievable. Elephants are a national symbol and are treated with great care.
• I could seriously consider the problem of water shortage, as Japan has safe and clean water as a matter of course. However, the difficulty of recycling systems, biogas, biofertilizers, rainwater utilization, and generation methods, as I had imagined, varied differently from what I saw.

Taiwan

• From what I saw in the streets, the diverse food culture, and the warm hospitality of the people there, I realized that the world is indeed a vast and diverse place. It was my first time abroad, and the culture, scenery, and historical buildings were utterly different from those in Japan.
• I experienced the difficulty of dealing with local emergencies. I communicated with the two students daily; a few minutes before the two of us went to buy something together, I told Chihlee students that we were going out. Since we had exchanged contact information in advance, we could contact them. I thought about how I would feel in the same situation as my friend and what I would want her to do. Many people on the street saw us and walked by without help. We were foreigners, and it might have been difficult for the locals to talk to us. No matter what country we are in, language is indispensable. However, if we are all human beings, we will have no difficulties if we can help each other. It was a relief and reassuring moment when they came to help.
• I knew that in Japan, as in this Taiwanese story, there are widespread efforts to increase income and revitalize depopulated areas and primary and secondary industries experiencing declining incomes by connecting them to tertiary service industries such as tourism. Therefore, I felt a sense of familiarity with similar efforts. In addition, I had never had the experience of listening to people involved in such efforts, so it was a valuable experience for me to hear detailed information about the difficulties they have faced in carrying out their efforts.

Philippines

• Whenever I felt unfamiliar or anxious in the Philippines, my buddies and the people around me were very kind and helped me find a way to solve it.
• Many homeless people are on the streets of the Philippines, approaching people on the street or in cars, begging for money. Unlike in Japan, I saw my buddies share food or money and even give money to people who washed their cars without asking, which seemed to be a usual way of life.

3. Describe in detail what you would like to challenge and achieve in your future university life and life through this training.

Sri Lanka

• Through this training program, I was able to experience a different culture that I would not have been able to experience in Japan. I would like to share this experience with my family and friends. I would like to welcome the people I met in Sri Lanka with open arms, tell them about the charms of Japan, and help them study Japanese.
  
  Although Sri Lanka is not an English-speaking country, many people use English for daily communication. I realized that English is a universal language and an essential tool for communication and building relationships. In the future, I would like to have opportunities to speak English even while I am in Japan so that I will not regret later due to my English ability.

Taiwan

• Through this experience, I want to know about movements that energize residents and their efforts in depopulated communities. Since I aspire to become a curator or a local government official, I would like to research the movements being undertaken in my hometown and other regions, think about what I can do to help and obtain the necessary qualifications and study so that I can appeal to the public when I am looking for a job.

Philippines

• My image of the Philippines is more favorable than before. I am even more interested in participating in activities improving the relationship between Japan and the Philippines. After graduating from university, I originally wanted to work at a Japanese school, so I would like to become a teacher who teaches English and Japanese at a Japanese school in the Philippines and nurtures children to become a bridge between Japan and the Philippines.
• I have come to like the Philippines, and at the same time, I have come to appreciate Japan more. And I am even more convinced of my original desire to work abroad. Many Filipinos are interested in Japanese culture, and there were several occasions when I felt that there was a high demand for a Japanese language learning environment. This experience made me think I want to become a Japanese language teacher in the Philippines or overseas. By becoming a Japanese language teacher, I would be able to communicate the good qualities of Japan and deepen cross-cultural understanding using the Japanese language as a tool. To achieve this, I want to continue to interact with many people from overseas, survey their needs, and focus on creating easy-to-understand lessons.

Three students from the Department of Veterinary Medicine and one from the Department of Biochemistry went to the Sputnik International Language Centre in Sri Lanka. They participated in volunteer activities, including teaching the Japanese language and culture, working in gardens and a water well, homestays, and visiting various UN Cultural Heritage Sites. 
Nine students from various departments visited Chihlee University of Science and Technology in Taiwan, where they engaged in different cultural activities while studying Chinese.  
Two students from the Department of Education went to Mapua University in the Philippines, where they took intensive English classes, visited various cultural and historical sites, and engaged in multiple activities with Mapua students.