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3-minute read
At APU, local collaboration and cultural exchange opportunities aren’t just buzzwords from the university's 2030 vision – they are an integral part of most APU students’ college life. I am no exception. Within one-and-a-half years of enrollment, I have been presented with countless opportunities to dive deep into local traditions, connect with diverse communities, and truly understand the multicultural fabric that makes Beppu, Oita, so vibrant.
I joined my first cultural exchange with the help of the Student Activity Station (SAS), where I spent a whole day sharing my country and culture with junior high school students from Chikuzen-Town, Fukuoka Prefecture at the APU Campus. My fellow Vietnamese friends and I gave a short presentation about our cuisine, customs, and other significant aspects of our culture, fostering an immersive and multicultural environment for students to express themselves in English comfortably. In exchange, they taught us a great deal about Japanese culture, their English learning methods, and what a typical day was like for them. We had so much fun playing games, talking, sharing, and learning each other’s cultural values.
Our Vietnam team
My cultural exchange journey did not stop there. Not long after this, I came across another opportunity to connect with students from Namiki Secondary School, in Ibaraki Prefecture. I was asked to help them prepare for their short-term exchange program in Ho Chi Minh City, which is coincidentally my hometown. Although it was an online meeting, I was able to learn more about their thoughts on my country, suggesting how they can enjoy the city to the fullest and sharing the similarities between our two cultures. All the students welcomed me warmly, and it was such a pleasure to facilitate this session.
My nametag on the day
APU students don’t solely depend on bulletin boards to find local and cultural exchange opportunities. Sites such as Oita Active Net and APU Local Exchange provide information about exchange events that are open to both domestic and international students. These activities can vary from joining cultural workshops and language classes to organizing and supporting events held by the locals. Joining these events will not only enrich your experience of studying abroad in Japan, they will also give you chances to connect with cultures and people from different backgrounds. So, what are you waiting for? Hit the apply button and join some exchange programs today!
Hi guys! I'm Thanh (or Trish), a second-semester APS student from Vietnam. My love for Vietnamese poems and literature gave rise to my current passion for writing. Hope that through my articles, I can share with everyone the charms of APU and informative aspects of our university lives. Feel free to contact me, for both a chat and a cup of macchiato!
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