All posts by Thomas Greve

お知らせ, 参加生

Meet Maki Honda, Operations Manager for World Campus – Japan 2015 Program!

Maki Honda

Hello!
My name is Maki Honda from Japan and I am the Operations Manager of World Campus International.

I met the World Campus – Japan program when I was a university student in my hometown, Kumamoto, and I never expected it would change my whole life! Started as one of the host families, worked as a staff of the Local Organizing Committee, then after a couple of times of traveling as one of the program counselors, I decided to get involved in World Campus International in a long term.
And also I currently work at a university in Kumamoto city as an advisor of English study. I’m so happy that I’ve got this wonderful opportunity to share my experiences which I’ve gained in such a unique environment.

I always enjoy meeting new people and learning new cultures by traveling and working with the international group of people. Even though I was born and raised in Japan, traveling with the World Campus – Japan program allowed me to rediscover so many things about my own country and it has given me great opportunities to learn about the world. I am so proud to have those valuable experiences which not many people could experience.

This summer, I’ll be traveling with you and working for all the logistics and the translation/interpretation needs. I can’t wait to meet you all and have amazing adventures together!
Japan is ready to welcome you!! See you soon!

Maki Honda (Japan)

お知らせ, 参加生

Meet Nicole Tolman, Program Counselor for World Campus – Japan 2015 Program!

Nicole Tolman

Hi future participants!

My name is Nicole Tolman, 23 years old and I am from Utrecht, the Netherlands. At the moment I am finishing my Bachelor Japanstudies at the University of Leiden. My minor is Western Art History. Throughout my study I tried to learn the many different aspects of art, with the focus on Japanese Art around the Edo and Meiji period.

Three summers ago I was a participant of World Campus – Japan, and it was a wonderful experience! I made many new friends from all over the world and was welcomed by the host-families as one of their own. It gave me a special feeling to be able to join the activities World Campus – Japan offers. For instance, joining a Zen-meditation overseen by a priest or cutting bamboo in a bamboo forest and drink your well-deserved drink from the cup you made. Or, see my photo, joining a tea ceremony in a yukata (summer kimono). During this program I think you will all feel welcome and will be able to share your joy with others. You will experience a lot of new things and you will learn a lot of Japan, the world and of course from yourself.

This year I will be one of the WCJ counselors and I hope to be able to share this unique experience with you too! I can’t wait to meet all of you!

See you soon!

Love,
Nicole

訪問地, 地域実行委員、プログラムサポーター, 東京都多摩市

Welcome to Tama City in World Campus – Japan 2015!!!

Tama

ワールドキャンパス多摩です。私たちは、2007年からずっとWCIの若者たちとの交流
を続けています。今年は、またまた最終セッションの最終都市での受入となります。

交流活動内容としては、昨年のプログラムをより進めた形で充実を図りたいと思います。
初日、我孫子からの移動の途中で、国会議事堂訪問。昨年初めて実施し、今年も申し込みをしました。

すっかり定着した多摩市国際交流センターの「世界の若者と東京のおじさま・おばさま」、多摩大学学生を中心とした、休日を利用したメトロポリタンツアー、恵泉女学園大学との交流。

4年目となる唐木田地区のコミュニティセンター菖蒲館、児童館、図書館との共催事業「世界のひろば＆ありがとうイベント」は、より市民にオープンな形で行いたいなと思っています。

一週間という短い期間ですが 、WCIを迎える準備作業をとおして多摩の様々な人たちとの輪が広がっていくのが楽しいです。

We are World Campus – Tama, the community partner of World Campus International. We have been hosting the group of people from World Campus International since 2007, and some of you will be visiting Tama city as the final stop of the upcoming World Campus – Japan program.

Now we’re planning some exciting activities for you! First of all, you’ll be visiting the national diet building of Japan on your way to Tama city. Last summer, we visited there as one of the activities for the first time and it was an amazing experience for all of us!

During your stay in Tama, you’ll have a great opportunity to interact with some local people such as the middle age citizens from Tokyo, students from Tama University, and students from Keisen Jogakuin University! Some of the students will be taking you to downtown Tokyo on your personal day!

And it’s going to be the 4th time to hold the event, called “Sekai no hiroba”. We’ll be welcoming the local people of Tama city and sharing our cultures each other, and also having an “Arigato event” as a part of that big event.

We’re having fun preparing for the summer! It’s going to be short one week, but we’re so excited to have all of you here in Tama!

千葉県我孫子市, 訪問地, 地域実行委員、プログラムサポーター

Welcome to Abiko City in World Campus – Japan 2015!!!

Abiko

我孫子市は都心にも成田空港にも電車で40分ぐらいと便利な町ですが、豊かな自然が沢山残されています。人口は14万で都心に通う人のベッドタウンとして人気があります。住民の人柄は飛び抜けて温かく、親切ですがシャイな人が多いです。主流の農村には江戸時代から伝わる郷土芸能のお神楽なども伝承されています。我孫子市を一言で言えば「素朴な人情味溢れる田舎町」でしょうか？

Abiko city has rich nature and is located in such a convenient area that takes to 40 minutes both to the center of Tokyo and to Narita airport by train. The population is about 140,000 and Abiko is very popular as a bed-town of Tokyo. People are extremely kind and a bit shy. You can enjoy traditional performing art, Kagura, which have been handed down since Edo period. We are looking forward to having you here in country town with full of human warmth, Abiko!

訪問地, 大阪府吹田市

Welcome to Suita City in World Campus – Japan 2015!!!

Suita-SING役員写真

吹田国際隣人グループSING（Suita International Neighors Group)は、2005年にUWPの訪問を受け入れから始まって、2007年WCIを受け入れるためにUWP吹田実行委員会から、SINGが立ち上げられました。

現在、役員は5人。
＜代表＞三原滿里（画廊経営）　
＜副代表＞半崎智恵美（看護師）
＜会計＞西川利子（会社役員）
＜理事＞林　健治（IT会社経営）
＜理事＞は、岡田眞里（行政書士）

吹田ならではの、活動をして頂くために企画を考えています。去年に引き続き、商店街体験、企業、大学、ゆいぴあロビー活動、アサヒビール工場見学などを考えています。本年は、吹田千里山駅前に、住民のためのコミュニティセンター（千里山）の施設がオープンするので、地域の活性化に協力をお願いします。
　　　　　

SING (Suita International Neighbors Group) has started as a supporting community of Up With People in 2005, then we have been hosting the group of people from World Campus International since 2007.

Mari Mihara is the head of our group and we have Chiemi Hanzaki, Toshiko Nishikawa, Kenji Hayashi, and Mari Okada as official members of SING.

Now we’re preparing for the upcoming World Campus – Japan program. This summer, you might experience to work for Japanese traditional shopping street, interact with high school/university students, and explore Asahi beer factory as activities in Suita city!