Immersive exchange inspiring for students

Marlborough students have been broadening their horizons, spending two weeks in Tokyo getting to grips with a different way of life.

Leaving a region of 50,000 people to live and study in Tokyo, with a population of 15 million, proved an eye opener for students from both Marlborough Girls’ and Boys’ Colleges

Year 10 and 11 students Emily Preece, Maysie Ferguson, Alex Herd, Justin Prescott and George Mason, accompanied by teacher Alia Malik, joined classes at Jissen Gakuen Junior and Senior High School in Japan.

“It was amazingly different, because it was as big of a change as it could have been,” Emily explains.

“Going with our host families, just out into the open world of Tokyo and walking through Shibuya to see the sheer scale of people and buildings was a wild, amazing feeling.”

From new foods, new buildings and taking a bullet train to go skiing, the exchange is the first to be held since Covid.

Living with a family in their own home gave students a better insight into life in Japan, says Alex.

“When you're actually staying with them, you have to wake up early, take the trains to school with them, and see more of the home cultural side you appreciate it more.”

For Justin Prescott, the experience of visiting Japan was one he was eager to do due to his passion for Japanese cartoons.

“I couldn't believe even just going to school in the morning, just because it just reminded me of anime, so it was strange to live it for a while,” he says.

Maysie Ferguson says she learnt sharing a language was not the only way to make a connection.

Living with a family who spoke almost no English, gave her a chance to forge new friendships, she explains.

“It taught me you don't really need to speak the same language to connect.

“It was beautiful seeing Mount Fuji at sunset, and being taken to places that locals love, it was wonderfully crazy.”

Marlborough Girls’ College Principal Mary-Jeanne Lynch says exchange trips with Jissen Gakuen have seen the college expand their whanau over the last 26 years.

“It brings a richness to our school in terms of what the world is about, building understanding between different cultures, learning about other kids and speaking to other people in different environments is hugely important…”

“Getting the feedback from our boys is just glowing, and with geographical isolation that we've got here in Blenheim we’re lucky to send students over to fully immerse in Japanese culture over there,” adds Marlborough Boys’ College Principal Jarrod Dunn.

The trip also gave students a better appreciation for living in Marlborough, Maysie concluded.

“The first night I got back I was just looking over the vineyards and putting everything into perspective - but it was also amazing to go somewhere with so many people and see how they live.”