Learning from Foreign Exchange Students

Kennedy has always done a program for the Japanese exchange students to come to school for a two weeks. They usually stay with families who child is in Japanese or a Chinese class at school. We also provide yearlong foreign exchange students who are from other countries also but they don’t necessary have to stay with a family who child is attending that school. With their arrival, I am always shocked at how amazed they are at everything that we take for granted. 

For example one of the foreign exchange in my photography class said that they didn’t have these “fun” or art classes at her school. They were just the basic math, language arts, science and social studies. Here at Kennedy we are provided a variety of extra classes, ranging from wood tech. to ceramics. 

Another thing she told me was how they had to clean their school themselves. This might not be true to all schools in Japan because I am not sure if she went to a private one or not. But still, we are provided janitors to clean our bathrooms and sweep the floors. I never knew students had to do that until she told me about it.

Another thing we take for granted is driving. Most other countries will not allow you to get license until you are 18 years old of age. Here, we can start driving with a parent at 14 and then on our own when we are 16. This I take for granted every day because I drive to school and work without having to worry about taking a bus or have my parents drop me off.

Most schools in other countries also don’t have extra circular activities like sports. Usually they are part of a different organization that you have to sign up and not through the school. This makes me sad because this is where the school spirit is, kids attending games or clubs in their school colors. Since they don’t have these sports at their school, usually they are very eager at going out for a sport while they are staying and attending Kennedy. 

I think no matter what country you go to there will always will be small things that amaze you. For those who have grown up in that area, don’t think about it not being there. If I never would have met the foreign exchanges students I would have never have learned the different things they do in school whether it’s having a two hour lunch break or having to clean their school. They might be here for learning about how things are done here but we also learn from them.