International exchange on campus

Team Colors was established in 2022 and is a student group that promotes international exchange on campus together with International Exchange Center. Currently, there are 22 members, including university and junior college students. Half of the members are international students. Specific activities include planning exchange events with international students, events for intercultural understanding, and events to introduce Japanese culture to international students, which are held during lunch breaks from Monday to Friday. Last year, we held games from various countries, cultural introductions, language exchanges, international exchange days, Halloween and Christmas events, etc.

We aim to create a fun place where students can interact with international students on campus, come into contact with multiple cultures, and deepen mutual understanding. Not only do students deepen their own way of thinking and their understanding of different cultures, but they also share individual stories and experiences through communication with participating students, creating a circle of mutual help. If you are a student who is even slightly interested, please contact us. Let's work together!

Last year, many classes were held offline due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so I was worried about whether I would be able to make Japanese friends. So I applied for International Exchange Center 's "International Student Buddy" program. I became very close with my partner, and we became more like sisters than friends. She taught me about Japanese culture, youth slang, and the way of life in the young Japanese world, which are not even mentioned in textbooks. She also accepted my way of thinking and always took me to places I wanted to go. Thanks to that friend I made for the first time at university, I now have many Japanese friends. We have also traveled a lot in groups, and university life has become many times more fun than I expected. I'm glad that International Exchange Center has a program like this. I'm also glad that I met Mimori.

I applied to be an international student buddy because a friend introduced me to it. I have many male foreign friends, so I applied because I wanted to find a female international student friend to play with in a girl-only way. Since we met, we've made a lot of memories together, going shopping on weekends, going to snowy mountains with other friends, and having BBQs. For me, spending time with my international student friends is a fresh experience, and I learn a lot just by being together, so it's fun. We are all different in many ways, such as where we were born, nationality, and age, but every time we come across our differences, I make new discoveries and feel like I've discovered a new world. I'm really glad I met Hay mann!

It was not easy for me, who is not very sociable, to make Japanese friends. So I decided to apply for the "International Student Buddy" program offered by my university. At first, I was nervous and worried about many things, but my Japanese friends spoke to me kindly and politely, which made me feel really relieved and happy. I am still friends with them, so I think that applying for the "International Student Buddy" program was a great success. I started speaking more Japanese, and my communication skills improved. I was able to exchange things I didn't understand and different cultures, and we were able to understand each other more deeply. I also had more opportunities to learn about Japanese ways of thinking and manners, and thanks to that, I think I became able to assertively decide what to do and what not to do at any given time.

I applied because I wanted to take on a new challenge. I had been hosting homestay students for short periods every year, and one of the reasons was that I wanted to meet more people at university.

At first, I was worried about what would happen if I couldn't understand Japanese and whether I would be able to become friends with the people, but once we started, I found that I needed no worries.

What I gained was the opportunity to experience firsthand the differences in culture and customs between Japan and other countries. We talked about a lot of things, such as the games we played in elementary school and the differences between local universities. Last year, we had lunch together and went sightseeing in Nara. I still keep in contact with Tar, and in April we're going to Kyoto and Nara with Tar's friends. My family and I are also planning to invite him over to our house and treat him to some Japanese home cooking. For someone like me who had few opportunities to meet people of different grades and nationalities, I feel that this was a valuable experience and opportunity.