Visiting Japanese students experience local culture

MIRI: A total of six Japanese Youth Exchange students are here to experience the local culture and gain new understanding of the world.

The students, aged 16 to 22, who are Lions Youth Exchange (YE) programme participants arrived here from Japan on January 1 for the one-week event.

Lions Youth Exchange programme is held to provide today’s youth who are leaders of tomorrow, the opportunity to learn about people and cultures other than their own in effort to promote world peace.

Japanese YE students are given the opportunity to live with Lions hosting families during the programme to learn new cultures first-hand.

The ultimate goal is to have each participant share his or her experiences upon returning home in line with promoting international understanding.

The six Japanese Youth Exchange students will spend a week sightseeing here, including visits to Niah National Park, Handicraft Centre, Miri Canada Hill, Coco Cabana, Tanjung Lobang Beach, Piasau Nature Reserve Park, Curtin University to name a few.

Miri Mayor Adam Yii Siew Sang hosted a welcoming dinner for the Japanese Youth Exchange students and Lions on Tuesday night.

In his welcoming speech, Yii pointed out that this youth exchange activity of Lions Clubs allows the two countries to share each other’s culture, customs, life and so forth to establish closer ties, and help promote Sarawak.

He hopes that youth exchange from Japan can taste delicious food here and visit some tourist attractions worth sightseeing, and help promote the city’s tourist places when they return to Japan.

District Governor 308-A2 Kapitan Ronny Hiew Ah Choi thanked Yii for hosting the welcoming dinner and meet the six Japanese Youth Exchange students during a courtesy call at Miri City Hall .