Today, we went back from Niigata to Tokyo by bus. It was impressive that the students from Yap tried to see out of the window not to forget the scenery of Niigata. In the bus, they reflected what they had done in these nine days with the pictures.

今日は新潟から東京へバスで戻りました。新潟での風景を目に焼き付けようと窓の外を眺める彼らの様子が印象的でした。バスの中ではここまでの9日間の写真を見て振り返りをしました。

東京に着いてからは、日本で学んだことを振り返りながら個々人が思い描くヤップの将来の姿や、これから自分には何ができるのかを考える時間を持ちました。

After arrived at Tokyo, they deepened their learnings during this program and discussed what kind of future did they want in Yap. Then, they considered what they could do by themselves to make it happen.

During a farewell party in the evening, the students from Yap gave a presentation about their desired future of Yap and their learnings. Many people came and joined the farewell party including our supporters, host families and the people who had been to Yap. Thanks to them, it was a worm and wonderful party.

伝統を残しつつも現代的な生活を取り入れたい。私たちがヤップの未来そのものを作る存在なのだ。と彼らから力強い言葉が聞けました。夕方から行われた報告会では協賛者の方やホストファミリー、ヤップ島プログラムの過去の参加者など多くの方にお越し頂き彼らが学んだことを共有することができました。笑いの溢れる温かな会となりました。

Reported by NAOI Saki and ITO Sakurako