Our Current Exchange Student is Nayomi Gribble . As indicated in the Club Program Page , Nayomi is being hosted by the Rotary Club of Omihachiman, in the Shiga prefecture on the island of Honshu, Japan.
Honshu Island Shiga Prefecture
She was welcomed by he Host Club and Host Families
- Notice the overcoats
Arrived in January to unfamiliar weather
Mixing with school friends
Presenting our Club Banner to her Host Club President
At the Sumo Wrestling with host mum and friends
At a lakeside Rotary BBBQ on Lake Biwas
Nayomi entered a Yukata competition
Yukata is a cotton summer
kimino
And won 100,000 yen
Above the clouds on Mt Fuji
 playing on Rotary trip .jpg)
Drums ( Taiko ) playing on Mt Fuji Tour
On Mt Fuij tour - Roadway cleared of snow
Hiking with Host Family on Yakushima Island
Wearing a traditional kimino at a Rotary meeting
Nayomi's feelings about Youth Exchange
When asked in early October through recent email correspondence, how her exchange was progressing and reminding her that she had only 13 weeks left, Nayomi replied very thoughtfully :-
Being on exchange is really hard to explain. Its probably one of the most challenging, demanding, straight forward, satisfying, best thing I have ever done. I know that doesn't really make sense. But it does in a way.. or maybe that's just my English failing me.
Challenging in the way being away from family and friends, its hard especially not knowing anyone at the start. Accepting the difference in culture and trying to learn Chinese characters on top of the Japanese letters was just insane.
However totally worth it for I get to travel all over Japan, meet amazing friends who in turn, turn into family and to finally understand where I come from. I’m so happy I did exchange.
With only 3 months I am so mixed with emotions.
I don't want to leave Japan!! It has my friends that have been with me through out this exchange, matsunaga family (my second host family, which is like my own), and now I feel like I belong. Walking around my town and catching the train to Kyoto or Osaka just feels great! I'v gone to some great places, experienced so many things and I don't want to lose all this!!!!
Australia on the other hand, is my home. It has all my lovelys in it. I want to see so many people and live my own life again.
I don’t know… Its all so confusing.
But time is going by, and I know that this isn’t going to last. Soon I will be home :)
That's what Youth Exchange is all about !