The students Eron Ignacio, Beaula Sikyang, Dexter Haruo, Foncy Sambal and Ibul Bruce were accompanied by Nolan Rebluud, Palau Red Cross staff when they departed Palau for Japan Sunday night.
The students are volunteers of the Red Cross and will stay in Tsu city, Japan for one week to observe how the Japan’s Red Cross program works and to learn Japanese culture.The group’s trip to Japan was funded by the Japan Red Cross under the Japan-Palau Red Cross Youth Exchange Program.Miriam Chin, Palau Red Cross Director, said it was the second time that Palau sent students to Japan for cultural exchange.She said the students were chosen by the school’s principal.She advised the students to make sure that they experience Japanese culture and to know how the volunteers in Japan are doing and to share that experience when they go home.“It’s important that they share to us what they have learned to give us idea and to help us strengthen our programs here in Palau,” Chin said in an interview on Friday during a briefing with the group.The group will stay in Hotel Castle Inn Tsu and will visit Kyohoku Junior High School, Lino High School, Kinomoto High School and Kinan High School.The group will also go to Ise Shrine and will participate in Japan High School Cultural Festival in Mie at Hakusan town and at Yokkaichi City.The students will also meet the officials of Mie Prefecture.The group is scheduled to come back on August 2.Sikyang, a 15-year-old 10th grade student at the Mindzenty High School said she is excited and happy to go to Japan. She said she will shop and eat a lot there.Haruo, 13-year-old and 10th grade from Ngarechlong Elementary School said he is excited and scared. His father Philip Haruo, Horizon’s reporter advised him not to say anything when he gets there.Ibul, 18 a graduate of Palau High School and incoming freshmen student at Palau Community College said she is excited to meet a lot of Japanese people and to learn their culture.All of them are first timers in Japan.
