QACI Year 10 student Lulu recently represented Queensland during the July school holidays as part of the Tokyo Global Friendship Program, an international exchange opportunity facilitated through the Queensland Department of Education and organised by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education.
The program brings together students from around the world to experience Japanese culture, education and daily life while building lasting international friendships and strengthening intercultural understanding.
As one of just eight Queensland students selected to participate, Lulu spent time immersed in life at Momijigawa High School in Tokyo, attending classes, joining extracurricular activities and connecting with students from Japan as well as fellow participants from other countries.
Reflecting on the experience, Lulu shared:
"The Tokyo Global Friendship Program for high school students in Year 10 was an amazing opportunity that, at the time of my application, I wasn't aware just how significant it would prove to be. The entire trip was organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education, and I applied through the Queensland Department of Education after I saw an advertisement on social media.
My Dad studied Japanese at university and went on to live in Hiroshima after he graduated, so I felt a connection with Japan after hearing his stories, and that encouraged me to apply for the program. I felt supported by my family through the whole process, which was quite simple, and all the Department of Education staff for the program were so kind in my interview. Once I was successful, myself and the other 7 selected students were supplied with Japanese language lessons five weeks in advance, which helped in making me feel more prepared for the trip. At first, I felt very nervous that I would not form connections with the other Australian students but after lots of chatting and meeting in person, we all felt extremely excited to go on the trip together.
On the first day in Tokyo, we were introduced to the other countries who had been invited. I knew that there would be other countries attending, but I did not know we would have so much contact with them let alone stay at the same hotel! The other countries were Jordan, Malaysia, Thailand, New Zealand and Finland. It was so incredible to have conversations with them and learn so much about their different cultures in addition to learning about Japan. I was even shown how to wear a traditional Jordanian keffiyeh, which was amazing.
My Australia group was sent to Momijigawa High School, an incredibly welcoming school in Tokyo that gave me an amazing glimpse into student daily life. We had three days at school where we partook in classes and extracurricular activities with the help of our designated buddies. The Japanese student's English language ability was impressive, although I tried my best to use Japanese as much as I could. Club culture in Japan is something that surprised me the most and they organise their clubs without much teacher assistance. The clubs that were the most popular were dance, volleyball, cheerleading and soccer. I had the wonderful opportunity to take part in the calligraphy club, Kendo club and participate in an authentic Japanese tea ceremony. Although my time at the school was brief, I felt a large connection to all the students and teachers I had met. They provided us with a lovely final ceremony where we were gifted chopsticks and were clapped out of the school.
On the days we were not at school, we had time with the students from other countries, going to the Edo-Tokyo Museum and local parks. We also had free time to explore the city with our teacher chaperones. Overall, I feel so grateful for my experience, not only what I saw, but the connections I made with my chaperones, fellow students on the trip, students from other countries and the Momijigawa High School students. After this trip, I feel like my confidence in travelling independently has grown, as well as my global awareness in what other similar aged students are experiencing. I will cherish my memories of my time in Tokyo for a long time."
Lulu's experience reflects QACI's commitment to developing globally minded learners who embrace new perspectives, cultures and opportunities beyond the classroom. Through programs such as the Tokyo Global Friendship Program, students are empowered to build meaningful international connections while developing the confidence, communication skills and intercultural understanding that will support them throughout their lives.
Congratulations to Lulu on representing both QACI and Queensland with such enthusiasm and curiosity. We are incredibly proud of your achievement and look forward to seeing where your global journey takes you next.