1時間目は、6年生による鼓笛の演奏に迎えられて研修員が体育館に入場。生徒代表の挨拶や、日本の遊びの紹介、4年生による花笠音頭の披露など温かな歓迎を受けました！クオリティの高い小学生のパフォーマンスに感激し、熱心に見入っていました。

また研修員を代表してインドネシアのナディアさんがインドネシア式じゃんけんを紹介し、全校生徒と勝負したり、ボリビアのラウラさんがボリビアで小さい子供も演奏する笛の演奏をしたりと、研修員の国の文化を日本の小学生に伝えました。

In the first period, the participants were welcomed into the gymnasium by a drum performance by 6th graders. They received a warm welcome, including a greeting from the student representative, introduction of Japanese games, and a performance of Hanagasa Ondo by the 4th graders! The participants were impressed by the high quality of the students' performance and watched it with great enthusiasm.

Nadiah from Indonesia, representing the participants, introduced Indonesian-style rock-paper-scissors and played against all the students, and Laura from Bolivia played the flute, which is also played by small children in Bolivia, to share the culture of the participants' countries with the Japanese elementary school students.

2時間目は、各研修員が4年生～6年生の教室に分かれてクラスごとに計画された交流会に参加しました！小学生がこの日のために各クラスで研修員の国の文化や生き物などを調べたうえで、日本の遊びを英語でどのように教えるかまで計画されたとのことでした。

バングラデシュのイフテアラさん親子はソーラン節を見学し、ラオスのサイさんは日本の文化や四季の紹介を受けた後にハンカチ落としに参加。ベトナムのトゥーさんは人生初のコマ回しにチャレンジし、成功した際には大きな歓声が上がっており、各クラス思い思いのプログラムに研修員一同が楽しんでいる様子が見られました。

研修員を迎えに来た時は少し恥ずかしそうにしていた児童も、最後のお見送りでは笑顔で手を振っていたりと短い時間で言葉の壁を超えて仲良くなれた様子が印象的でした。

During the second period, each participant was divided into 4th-6th grade classrooms to participate in an exchange planned for each class! The elementary school students researched the culture and creatures of the participant's countries in each class for this day, and even planned how to teach Japanese games in English.

Ms. Ifteara and her son from Bangladesh observed a Soranbushi performance, and Mr. Sai from Laos participated in a handkerchief drop after being introduced to Japanese culture and the four seasons. Ms. Thu from Vietnam tried her hand at spinning a top for the first time in her life, and when she succeeded, there were loud cheers from all the participants.

It was impressive to see how the children, who were a little shy when the participants came to pick them up, smiled and waved at them when they saw them off at the end of the program, and how they became friends beyond the language barrier in a short time.

交流会の終わりには、曾我校長から研修員に対して「子どもたちにとって忘れられない1日になりました」とお礼の言葉が贈られました。
生徒にとっても普段は馴染みのない国々に触れていただきましたが、研修員にとっても日本の小学校制度や日本の子供たちの様子を知る大変貴重な機会となりました。

今後も長年の西原小学校とJICA東京の信頼関係を基に、少しでも理解が深まる機会を設けていきたいと思います。
楽しい時間を提供してくださった西原小学校の児童の皆さん、準備から当日まで、ご協力くださった先生方や保護者の皆さん、本当にありがとうございました！！

At the end of the exchange meeting, Principal Soga thanked the participants, saying, "This was an unforgettable day for the students.
For the students, it was an opportunity to experience countries with which they are not usually familiar, and for the participants, it was a very valuable opportunity to learn about the Japanese elementary school system and how Japanese children are.

Based on the longstanding relationship of trust between Nishihara Elementary School and JICA Tokyo, we would like to continue to provide opportunities to deepen our understanding of each other as much as possible.
We would like to thank all the children of Nishihara Elementary School for providing us with an enjoyable time, and all the teachers and parents who cooperated with us from the preparation to the day of the event!