By Ikuko Karacsony | Program Officer
We are currently in the midst of Global Classmates Summit 2018 in Washington, DC! Twelve high school students (six from the US and six from Japan) were selected from a pool of 1,700 participants based on their outstanding performance in our virtual exchange program, Global Classmates, to participate in the Summit from July 26th to August 4th. It is an exciting opportunity for students as the relationships they cultivated online blossom as they meet one another in person to discover, dialogue, and collaborate.
During the Summit, the students are staying together at a local University dorm and are engaging in various activities such as: exploring the capital of the United States; exchanging cultures with each other; meeting with experienced leaders, as well as internationally minded young professionals and university students; and working together to make a presentation on their learnings and takeaways from the Summit. On August 2nd, the students will present their ideas on how as young leaders they can collaborate for building a positive future for US-Japan relations.
Before the students from Japan headed to Washington, DC, they met in Tokyo and visited the US Embassy where they met Mr. Gregory Aurit, Education and Exchange Officer, and Ms. Noyuri Ishikawa, Youth Outreach Program Specialist from the Public Affairs section. The students heard about their personal stories on when they first came to Japan and received tips on making an impactful self-introduction in English.
The students also met with former Ambassador to the US, Ichiro Fujisaki, at the America-Japan society. Ambassador Fujisaki shared his experience as a diplomat and valuable advice on the importance of speaking up without hesitation. The students were also surprised with a special guest, Astronaut Mr. Norishige Kanai. One by one, they asked Mr. Kanai questions and got to shake his hand. To say they were excited is an understatement!
The pre-departure programs have helped the students from Japan well and they are all making the most of this unique opportunity to learn and make lasting friendships. We cannot wait to share about the students’ experience in Washington, DC as well!
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