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Living away from my parents, I learned about independence and could increase my self confidence.

FLC 2nd year: Yamada (from Hong Kong)

　Living away from my parents, I was able to take care of myself. I studied English conversation and Hawaiian history, and experienced Hawaiian culture firsthand, while also managing my own expenses and growing in maturity. I feel I have grown more towards adulthood through this experience. I am very grateful for all the people who helped and influenced me towards this growth. By the time I moved to my second home　stay, I feel I had become confident in my decisions and actions so that the experience went smoothly without any missteps. Thus, I feel I have returned to Japan as a better more mature individual.

＊Title:
Homestay

In order to truly understand one's own country,
it is important to understand the world
and countries around it.

FLC 2nd year:Kikuchi (Touka JHS)

　The differences between Hawaii and Japan were more than I first expected. Both Hawaii and Japan have their own good points and traits that make living there comfortable. Before going to Hawaii, I already knew that Japan had numerous wonderful aspects. But even so, through staying in Hawaii, I was able to discover even more positive and wonderful things that I had not realized before about about my own country of Japan. I realized living in and understanding another country and land helped me to also appreciate and better understand my own country and land. Through this experience I have grown to love my own country even more.

＊Title:
Differences in Hawaiian and Japanese Daily Life
「Manners・・Toilet・Tip giving culture・Traffic」

Living in an English immersion environment
I was able to learn many things

FLC 2nd year:Kudo (Ogawara JHS)

　Because my host family were 2nd generation Japanese, I expected to be able to communicate with them in Japanese. However, I was surprised to discover they only communicated in English. Therefore, for one and a half months, I lived in an English only environment, which was a very beneficial learning experience. I undertook language exchange activities with my host sister and brother, where I taught them Japanese and they taught me English. It was incredibly fun! Even though a language barrier existed between us, there was no emotional barrier, and we could relate to each other well.

＊Title:
Hawaii: A Racially Diverse Population in America;
The Path and Life of 2nd Generation Japanese

I was touched and grateful after researching Hawaii's and Japan's mutual history.

FLC 2nd year: Miura (Shirakashidai JHS)

　 I researched the Pearl Harbor incident for a report. I stayed and studied in Hawaii. The Hawaiian people were very warm to me and welcomed me with open arms. Even though Japan and Hawaii had a difficult past, today everyone gets along.

＊Title:
Moving beyond Pearl Harbor：Japan and America's Relationship

War is cruel, Life is more important.

FLC 2nd year:Miyoshi (Taiwa JHS)

　During our stay in Hawaii we went to visit Pearl Harbor. I learned a lot about the unfortunate war between America and Japan in the past. When I saw the sunk submarine Arizona, I felt a sad feeling in my chest. At the memorial hall I saw missiles that had been used in the war and turned my eyes away in shame and sadness as tears fell. I felt a strong sense of having learned this sad history. I also learned and grew to understand the impact of the lives lost in the attack.

＊Title:
Pearl Harbor
The fun of studying English,
many new discoveries

FLC 2nd year:Yamashita (Watari JHS)

　These 2 and a half months in Hawaii I was able to experience the fun of learning English, the complexity of Hawaiian History, and the warmness of the Hawaiian people. In Hawaii many different people and races live together happily, with their different languages and accents. I discovered many new things and had many new experiences. Among them, Pidgin English, which I found very interesting. Hawaii has many new and exciting things for me to learn about!

＊Title:
Hawaii's Pidgin English: A Peculiar Manifestation

Hawaii was an experience
I will hold close to my heart.

FLC 2nd year:Yamakawa (Tsurugaoka JHS)

　During the three months spent in Hawaii I thought I experienced people’s warmth. I am grateful to my three home stay families. When it was time to leave my host family said, “You are always a part of our family. Isn’t that good.”. I kept the warmth from my experience in Hawaii in my heart the whole way back to Japan. What other country’s has Hawaii’s distinctive people, language, nature, or Hawaiian spirit. I want to introduce this Hawaiian spirit to Japan. 。

＊Title:
Hawaiian Spirit:  「Japan's Influence is Felt in Hawaii」

I became interested in foreign cooking

FLC 2nd year:Oda (Wakayanagi JHS)

　

My visit to Hawaii was not just a chance to eat normal cooking, but also lead me to develop an interest in cooking food from countries other than Japan. It was a chance to broaden my point of view. Now that I have examined the history of the cooking, I am able have a deeper understanding, and I am becoming more and more (increasingly) interested in it. There is a lot to learn from studying Hawaii’s cooking. It was a great experience.

＊Title:
Hawaiian Food: The History Of.

What is normal thinking in Japan is not always
the case in a foreign country.

FLC 2nd year:Kashiwaya (Nagamachi JHS)

　In Hawaii and Japan there are several similarities and differences in daily life. Things like interacting with people in stores and busses, or talking to people for the first time, are much more relaxed and free compared to a similar situation in Japan. There are both good and bad points about this. In contrast, in Japan is politeness, punctuality and so on, are good feelings you can have. When I went abroad I could understand that it is not normal to think about what is normal and not. I was able to see a lot of Hawaii’s good points, but I absolutely love Japanese life.

＊Title:　
Differences in Hawaiian and Japanese Lifestyles.

The result of the Hula dance lesson was that everyone was able to dance to the music!

FLC 2nd year:Kimura (Hebita JHS)

　 While studying foreign language at I-Lion School for about 2.5 months, from April 25th to July 8th, I was particularly interested and charmed by hula and the Iolani Palace. The hula teacher, called Kumahura, gave us personal instruction for a short time. Later, all the class members practiced the routine repeatedly and, although poorly, we were able to dance to the music together. Iolani palace was the place we went to for extra-curricular ESL study. In Hawaii we not only improved our English, but learned about Hawaiian history and culture through extra-curricular activities.

＊Title:
King Kalakaua's Personality and Influence on Modern Japanese Society.

During my home stay
I was charmed by Hawaiian music.

FLC 2nd year:Aida (Hakodate Shiomi JHS)

　The visit to Hawaii and home stay was very stressful in the beginning. At first I was nervous, but I quickly became used to the environment, because my host family showed me kindness everyday. On our days off they took me sightseeing. While I was experiencing beautiful sea and mountains, full of unusual plants and animals the part that really got my interest was the music. My first opportunities to hear Hawaiian music were in my host family’s car and on their TV at home. This unique melody and calm rhythm, not often heard in Japan, became my favorite. In Hawaii I could also go to many concerts, so was able to be influenced by a lot of music.

＊Title:
Hawaiian Music
 
 
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