「インターナショナルカルチャーデイ」学生レポート
"International Culture Day" Report by Students
みなさんの考える「インクルーシブなキャンパス」とは、どんなキャンパスでしょうか。このテーマをもとに、授業内で小規模なフィールドワークを行いました。その結果、「日本のキャンパスで毎日学習しているにも関わらず、日本人学生と交流の機会が少ないうえに、留学生側の文化や日本について意見交換する場も少ない」という課題が浮き彫りになりました。具体的には、垣根なく、リラックスして語り合う物理的なスペースが足りないことや、学食を含む建物や標識の問題まで多岐にわたる提案がなされました。そこで、小さな一歩として、「自分たちの文化について興味を持ってもらいたい」という思いから、今回は学生代表3名が8月からイベントを企画しました。10月25日のInternational Culture Dayの様子は、学生自身が英語記事にまとめました。写真とともに楽しんでいただけたら幸いです。
Organizing the International Cultural Event
The organizing committee of the event consisted of students from the Yokohama Creative City Studies (YCCS) Program who proposed a similar idea with the base of intercultural exchange for their Inclusive Campus Project in the course offered during the Spring of 2022. Thanks to the diverse background of the committee, various ideas for the events were planned with the help of students from class Studio Workshop #2& #4(SDGs and Partnership). The content of the event was based on the committee’s personal experience over the course of three committee meetings. Sarah, for example, is a native English speaker that is used with slangs, whereas the usage of slang is tricky to master for a non-native speaker. In addition, JOY students from the University of Technology Sydney supported the event by teaching Australian slangs to the audience, as well as introducing a country poster.
The organizing committee of the event consisted of students from the Yokohama Creative City Studies (YCCS) Program who proposed a similar idea with the base of intercultural exchange for their Inclusive Campus Project in the course offered during the Spring of 2022. Thanks to the diverse background of the committee, various ideas for the events were planned with the help of students from class Studio Workshop #2& #4(SDGs and Partnership). The content of the event was based on the committee’s personal experience over the course of three committee meetings. Sarah, for example, is a native English speaker that is used with slangs, whereas the usage of slang is tricky to master for a non-native speaker. In addition, JOY students from the University of Technology Sydney supported the event by teaching Australian slangs to the audience, as well as introducing a country poster.
Showcase of our country through the Poster
This event gives people the chance to admire the stunning and vibrant posters about numerous various countries made by students from those countries. The journey begins with posters from Asia, each poster represents fascinating aspects of the respective nation. While Indonesia's poster promotes its culinary traditions and long-standing Batik garments, Singapore's image mesmerized onlookers with its well-known tourist attractions. Equally impressive, are the Philippines with its distinctive Barong Tagalog costume and mango, the nation's national fruit, as well as China, with the Forbidden City's priceless historical significance, Vietnam also stands out for its enthralling wonders and delectable gastronomy. On the other side of the globe, we have posters from Germany and Slovakia. Whereas the Slovakian poster displays the architectural and historical treasures that this exquisite country is preserving, the German poster places an emphasis on a range of regional specialties including schnitzel, bezel, and bier. Australia, with its stunning scenery and local delicacies like vegemite and Tim tam is the final stop. The event's posters are all immersed with intriguing information about different countries, piquing viewers' interest and exemplifying the diversity of local cultures, which is also the international day's ethos.
This event gives people the chance to admire the stunning and vibrant posters about numerous various countries made by students from those countries. The journey begins with posters from Asia, each poster represents fascinating aspects of the respective nation. While Indonesia's poster promotes its culinary traditions and long-standing Batik garments, Singapore's image mesmerized onlookers with its well-known tourist attractions. Equally impressive, are the Philippines with its distinctive Barong Tagalog costume and mango, the nation's national fruit, as well as China, with the Forbidden City's priceless historical significance, Vietnam also stands out for its enthralling wonders and delectable gastronomy. On the other side of the globe, we have posters from Germany and Slovakia. Whereas the Slovakian poster displays the architectural and historical treasures that this exquisite country is preserving, the German poster places an emphasis on a range of regional specialties including schnitzel, bezel, and bier. Australia, with its stunning scenery and local delicacies like vegemite and Tim tam is the final stop. The event's posters are all immersed with intriguing information about different countries, piquing viewers' interest and exemplifying the diversity of local cultures, which is also the international day's ethos.
Stereotypes – True or False?
Stereotypes – no matter where we are from, we all have them. This is why, during International Culture Day at YNU the students of the Yokohama Creative City Studies Program (YCCS) introduced those most commonly assumed about their own countries and made it into a quiz show, testing their audience in a game of maru/batsu – true or false? From all Chinese being good at mathematics, Germans loving beer and punctuality, and every Singaporean being rich, the presented stereotypes were not only interesting and funny, but gave some food for thought about how we perceive different countries and their cultures. It turns out that not everyone in the Philippines is working at call centers, selling alcohol and pork is normal even in Indonesia and at least the older generation of Vietnamese does actually prefer dogs over cats at the dinner table (Youngsters not being fond of either). Also, that most people do not know where the country of Slovakia is proved itself to be a sad truth. The takeaway of this game could be said to be to err on the side of caution when jumping to conclusions about another country and its people.
Stereotypes – no matter where we are from, we all have them. This is why, during International Culture Day at YNU the students of the Yokohama Creative City Studies Program (YCCS) introduced those most commonly assumed about their own countries and made it into a quiz show, testing their audience in a game of maru/batsu – true or false? From all Chinese being good at mathematics, Germans loving beer and punctuality, and every Singaporean being rich, the presented stereotypes were not only interesting and funny, but gave some food for thought about how we perceive different countries and their cultures. It turns out that not everyone in the Philippines is working at call centers, selling alcohol and pork is normal even in Indonesia and at least the older generation of Vietnamese does actually prefer dogs over cats at the dinner table (Youngsters not being fond of either). Also, that most people do not know where the country of Slovakia is proved itself to be a sad truth. The takeaway of this game could be said to be to err on the side of caution when jumping to conclusions about another country and its people.
Vast Experience as an International Student
Rinto Hatayama, YCCS 4th year student, shared his vast experience of living abroad. He was originally born in Japan and is ethnically Japanese, however, majority of his childhood he spent in various countries across the globe, then decided to return to Japan to pursue higher education at YNU. As he mentioned, living abroad had many advantages such as new opportunities, cultural appreciation, cultural exchange, broadening horizons, on the other hand, it also brought him some difficulties such as loneliness, fear/anxiety, or language barriers. Despite these difficulties, living or studying abroad is an experience that can form and shape our personality and change the way we perceive everyday life.
Rinto Hatayama, YCCS 4th year student, shared his vast experience of living abroad. He was originally born in Japan and is ethnically Japanese, however, majority of his childhood he spent in various countries across the globe, then decided to return to Japan to pursue higher education at YNU. As he mentioned, living abroad had many advantages such as new opportunities, cultural appreciation, cultural exchange, broadening horizons, on the other hand, it also brought him some difficulties such as loneliness, fear/anxiety, or language barriers. Despite these difficulties, living or studying abroad is an experience that can form and shape our personality and change the way we perceive everyday life.
Glimpse of Indonesia and Muslim Culture
Indonesia is a southeast-Asian country and is well-known for its cultural and ethnic diversity, and one student sets out to give a glimpse of such diversity to the audience at the event. Alisha Savaira, a YCCS third-year student who herself is originally from Indonesia gave a presentation primarily explaining what being a Muslim and an Indonesian is to her. She introduces the audience to the more than a thousand ethnic groups that are scattered all throughout the Indonesian archipelago, each with their own unique traditions, dialects, and clothing setting them apart from one another. After the main presentation, attendees were also able to get the unique opportunity of wearing a Hijab as well as other traditional Indonesian clothing, which many of the attendees found to be a fun and insightful experience.
Indonesia is a southeast-Asian country and is well-known for its cultural and ethnic diversity, and one student sets out to give a glimpse of such diversity to the audience at the event. Alisha Savaira, a YCCS third-year student who herself is originally from Indonesia gave a presentation primarily explaining what being a Muslim and an Indonesian is to her. She introduces the audience to the more than a thousand ethnic groups that are scattered all throughout the Indonesian archipelago, each with their own unique traditions, dialects, and clothing setting them apart from one another. After the main presentation, attendees were also able to get the unique opportunity of wearing a Hijab as well as other traditional Indonesian clothing, which many of the attendees found to be a fun and insightful experience.
Snacks Snacks Snacks!
Listening to presentations for more than a couple of minutes is bound to make us hungry. Therefore, we’ve prepared a variety of snacks at the end of the event! Featuring snacks from various countries, Bear Paws Cookies and Leckers are both deliciously sweet snacks that you can easily consume to satisfy your sweet tooth, if you want something a bit chewier then Yupi gummy is the right choice for you. For a healthier option, Be-kind’s mixed nuts bars have a good mix of both nutrition and sweetness to satisfy your cravings. If you live on the edge and want something spicy, then the Bon Cabe’s Macaroni Crisps is the choice to go for, they can only be consumed by those with a good level of spice tolerance. All these snacks can easily be purchased through online stores or at your local foreign import stores, so when you do have the opportunity to get one of these, don’t hesitate and have a taste for yourself.
Listening to presentations for more than a couple of minutes is bound to make us hungry. Therefore, we’ve prepared a variety of snacks at the end of the event! Featuring snacks from various countries, Bear Paws Cookies and Leckers are both deliciously sweet snacks that you can easily consume to satisfy your sweet tooth, if you want something a bit chewier then Yupi gummy is the right choice for you. For a healthier option, Be-kind’s mixed nuts bars have a good mix of both nutrition and sweetness to satisfy your cravings. If you live on the edge and want something spicy, then the Bon Cabe’s Macaroni Crisps is the choice to go for, they can only be consumed by those with a good level of spice tolerance. All these snacks can easily be purchased through online stores or at your local foreign import stores, so when you do have the opportunity to get one of these, don’t hesitate and have a taste for yourself.
企画委員(敬称略):Alisha Savaira, Rinto Hatayama, and Sarah Cai
イベント実行・ポスター制作・記事制作(敬称略): Timotej Celes, Ryuji Kato,
Celine-Vivian Reinhardt, Van Ngoc Hien, Xie Zaixi, Yeo Kevin Kah Kit, Aleksi Aalto Lauri
イベント実行・ポスター制作・記事制作(敬称略): Timotej Celes, Ryuji Kato,
Celine-Vivian Reinhardt, Van Ngoc Hien, Xie Zaixi, Yeo Kevin Kah Kit, Aleksi Aalto Lauri
(担当:学務・国際戦略部グローバル推進課留学生係)