Trip of a lifetime: 15 students to travel to Japan in cultural exchange programme
Students to learn about telecommunications during 10-day trip
PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
Some were anxious, others nervous but all of the 15 students selected to participate in the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (Jenesys) programme were excited.
The pre-departure orientation took place at residence of the Japanese consul-general Toshikazu Isomura in Defence Housing Authority's phase V where 15 students and a supervisor attended the event and were briefed on what is to be expected during their 10-day tour of Japan.
Two Pakistani students to pursue higher education in Japan
Jenesys is a cultural programme established to promote people to people exchange and develop mutual trust amongst the people of Japan and other guest countries participating in the programme. This year's theme is 'Telecommunications' and students studying this subject are travelling to Japan to learn more about the topic.
"As young and brilliant minds you can try to bridge the gap between Pakistan and Japan just by improving your people to people interaction," said Isomura in perfect Urdu. "I know for a fact that Pakistanis prefer going to the United States, Middle East or even Europe but they should look into the possibility of visiting Japan," he urged.
"Keeping the cold weather of Japan in mind, you might get to witness snowfall, something that Karachiities are not able to see here. Also, the trip to Nagasaki will be an eye opener for you and you will learn how harmful the aftermath of an atomic bomb can be," said the consul-general.
Twelve of the students are from four different universities in Sindh, while the remaining three are from Balochistan.
Speaking about the nervousness gripping his heart, 22-year-old Mohammad Zakaria, who is studying at the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, said, "This is my first trip outside the country". I am a bit nervous and elated at the same time about being chosen to be a part of this cultural exchange programme, he said. He was very interested in learning about computers from Japanese experts.
"I have travelled all the way from Makran to be a part of this programme. I personally believe that there are huge differences between Pakistan and Japan and I would like to see them for myself," said Zakaria's batch mate, 21-year-old Zohaib Kazi. He is interested in learning about computer programming and software development.
Zubia Anwar, a 23-year-old student from Hamdard University, was interested in the idea of possibly working in Japan in the future.
One of the speakers at the event, Hamdard Public School headmistress Mehreen Masood, shared her views on how young students have behaved in the past while visiting foreign countries. She told the kids to be polite and gracious and be accepting of the Japanese culture. Do not miss nihari, you can eat it in 10 days, she said, urging kids to step out of their comfort zones and explore the country's gastronomic offerings.
As many as 220 students from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation countries will be travelling to Japan around the same time to learn about and interact on telecommunications, said Isomura.
The participants will take off from Karachi on January 15 and travel to Narita in Japan. They will visit places such as the Edogawa Ward Fukagawa Edo Museum, see cutting technology in Miraikan, observe communications in Melco Advanced Device Corporation and visit Nagasaki and Tokyo.
"Once you are back in town after the 10 day visit, we hope you will share your stories with everyone about Japan," said Isomura.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2017.
Some were anxious, others nervous but all of the 15 students selected to participate in the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (Jenesys) programme were excited.
The pre-departure orientation took place at residence of the Japanese consul-general Toshikazu Isomura in Defence Housing Authority's phase V where 15 students and a supervisor attended the event and were briefed on what is to be expected during their 10-day tour of Japan.
Two Pakistani students to pursue higher education in Japan
Jenesys is a cultural programme established to promote people to people exchange and develop mutual trust amongst the people of Japan and other guest countries participating in the programme. This year's theme is 'Telecommunications' and students studying this subject are travelling to Japan to learn more about the topic.
"As young and brilliant minds you can try to bridge the gap between Pakistan and Japan just by improving your people to people interaction," said Isomura in perfect Urdu. "I know for a fact that Pakistanis prefer going to the United States, Middle East or even Europe but they should look into the possibility of visiting Japan," he urged.
"Keeping the cold weather of Japan in mind, you might get to witness snowfall, something that Karachiities are not able to see here. Also, the trip to Nagasaki will be an eye opener for you and you will learn how harmful the aftermath of an atomic bomb can be," said the consul-general.
Twelve of the students are from four different universities in Sindh, while the remaining three are from Balochistan.
Speaking about the nervousness gripping his heart, 22-year-old Mohammad Zakaria, who is studying at the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, said, "This is my first trip outside the country". I am a bit nervous and elated at the same time about being chosen to be a part of this cultural exchange programme, he said. He was very interested in learning about computers from Japanese experts.
"I have travelled all the way from Makran to be a part of this programme. I personally believe that there are huge differences between Pakistan and Japan and I would like to see them for myself," said Zakaria's batch mate, 21-year-old Zohaib Kazi. He is interested in learning about computer programming and software development.
Zubia Anwar, a 23-year-old student from Hamdard University, was interested in the idea of possibly working in Japan in the future.
One of the speakers at the event, Hamdard Public School headmistress Mehreen Masood, shared her views on how young students have behaved in the past while visiting foreign countries. She told the kids to be polite and gracious and be accepting of the Japanese culture. Do not miss nihari, you can eat it in 10 days, she said, urging kids to step out of their comfort zones and explore the country's gastronomic offerings.
As many as 220 students from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation countries will be travelling to Japan around the same time to learn about and interact on telecommunications, said Isomura.
The participants will take off from Karachi on January 15 and travel to Narita in Japan. They will visit places such as the Edogawa Ward Fukagawa Edo Museum, see cutting technology in Miraikan, observe communications in Melco Advanced Device Corporation and visit Nagasaki and Tokyo.
"Once you are back in town after the 10 day visit, we hope you will share your stories with everyone about Japan," said Isomura.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 14th, 2017.