The exchange program, which has been established in the late 1990s between Japan and Palau through the Ministry of Education, has allowed many opportunities for both Palauan and Japanese students to travel to Palau and Japan and experience each country’s culture and establish meaningful learning relationships with each other.
Last month, 10 Palauan students were on a 10-day visit to Japan for the same program. These same students, in return, hosted the activities for their Japanese student counterparts, who arrived in Palau on July 20.
According to Philip Haruo, Administrative Officer of Bureau of Education Administration, in an interview, “During our students’ visit to Japan, the Japanese have, more often than not, bore all of the expenses of the visits,” Haruo said.
“In return, the Japanese students come to Palau to do the same thing,” Haruo said. “For a week they will be visiting historical sites and learning about Palau culture.”
Among the activities prepared by the Paluan students for their Japanese guests were trips to Babeldaob and Ngemelis Island, a visit to Palau International Coral Reef Center and the Marina.
The Japanese students, together with their chaperons, also got to explore Koror through a city Tour on Sunday, which included a visit to the Belau National Museum, Koror Elementary School and the Recycling Center at M-Dock.
On Monday, a farewell program was prepared by the Palauan students for their Japanese guests at the Koror Elementary School Gym.
