Sophia University Micronesia Exposure Tour‘19

(At Nan Madol Ruins)

Sophia University and Sophia Junior College held the Micronesia Exposure Tour from August 24th to September 6th, 2019, with ten students from the university and three students from the junior college for a total of thirteen students taking part in the program.

This was the fifth year for the Exposure Tour, which started in September 15th under the MoU signed between Sophia University and Junior College, and College of Micronesia (COM-FSM). Starting from 2017 the program became a course credit, and by registering for and completing the course students receive two credits in the core curriculum. APIC Vice-President and visiting professor at Sophia University, Shoji Sato, and Sophia University Junior College President Hiroshi Yamamoto led the tour.

(Former FSM President Mori giving a lecture)

The students stayed in the COM-FSM dorms located in the state of Pohnpei, and received special lectures from local experts such as university professors and former president. They also visited the Japanese embassy and JICA Micronesia offices, learning about Micronesia’s history and Japan-Micronesia relations as well as getting familiar with some of Micronesia’s social challenges. The group took field trips to visit the UNESCO-designated Nan Madol Ruins, climbed Mt. Kesosu and Kepirohi Waterfall, experiencing Micronesia’s nature and culture first-hand.

(At Pohnpei Airport)

At the end of the stay in Pohnpei, the students had the chance to do a two-night homestay. They were able to experience Micronesian lifestyle and food, while being exposed to Micronesians’ warmth. Many of the families went to the airport to see the students off, giving them hugs as they left.

(On the boat to Jeep Island)

In addition to visiting Pohnpei Island, starting this year the program expanded to add a stay in Chuuk state, visiting Jeep Island known for its beautiful scenery, and paying a visit to Xavier High School, from which APIC supports exchange students studying in Japan. Xavier is a designated partner school with Sophia University, and upon the Japanese students’ visit they were presented with coconuts and flower headdresses, and welcomed with a special song.

(At Xavier High School)

After returning to Japan, the students wrote up individual reports and made a presentation on their experience. Before participating in the tour most students did not know much or anything about the region, but after returning there was a remarkable change. In the future they will hopefully take on responsibility to deepen the communication and ties between Japan and the Federated States of Micronesia.

WHAT'S NEW

-2019.5.22 UPDATE
PROJECTS "Interview: Tsuda University President Dr. Yuko Takahashi"

-2019.5.22 UPDATE
PROJECTS "Interview: Kansai Gaidai University Professor Dr. Osamu Kataoka"

-2019.5.22 UPDATE
PROJECTS "Interview: APIC Director Isako Funaki (Chairwoman and Executive Director of Yacmo Co. Ltd.)

-2019.5.16 UPDATE
EVENTS “The 358th Lecture Meeting Regarding Global Issues"

-2019.5.10 UPDATE
EVENTS "Pacific Environmental Seminar Held in Samoa"

-2019.5.10 UPDATE
PROJECTS "Fall Semester 2018 Sophia University Short-term Internship Program"

-2019.5.10 UPDATE
EVENTS "Pacific and Caribbean Student Invitation Program 2019"

-2019.5.10 UPDATE
EVENTS "“Island Sustainability Symposium” held at Sophia University"

-2019.4.22 UPDATE
EVENTS “The 357th Lecture Meeting Regarding Global Issues"

-2019.4.4 UPDATE
EVENTS “The 356th Lecture Meeting Regarding Global Issues"

-2019.2.28 UPDATE
EVENTS "Summer 2018 APIC Student Internship"

-2019.2.21 UPDATE
EVENTS “College of Micronesia Student Invitation Program 2018: Sophia & Reitaku Universities Accept Short-term Students”

-2019.2.21 UPDATE
EVENTS “‘Pacific Light’ Photo Exhibit at Toyo University”

-2019.2.21 UPDATE
EVENTS “Photo Exhibit at 30th Anniversary of Japan & Micronesia Diplomatic Ties Ceremony”

-2019.2.21 UPDATE
EVENTS “Pacific and Caribbean Journalists Program 2018”

-2019.2.21 UPDATE
EVENTS “4th Sawara Experience: Sawara Fall Festival”

-2019.2.21 UPDATE
EVENTS “Environmental Seminar held in Trinidad & Tobago”

-2019.2.21 UPDATE
EVENTS “Pacific Leaders Invitation Program: Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk State Young Leader Invitation Program II”

-2019.2.4 UPDATE
EVENTS “The 354th Lecture Meeting Regarding Global Issues”

-2019.1.8 UPDATE
EVENTS “The 353rd Lecture Meeting Regarding Global Issues”

-2018.11.27 UPDATE
EVENTS "352nd Lecture Meeting Regarding Global Issues"

-2018.11.20 UPDATE
ABOUT "Public Information Added"

-2018.11.15 UPDATE
EVENTS "The 2018 Pacific and Caribbean Journalists Program"

-2018.10.18 UPDATE
EVENTS "The 351st Lecture Meeting Regarding Global Issues"

-2018.10.18 UPDATE
EVENTS "First Xavier Exchange Student’s Graduation Celebration Dinner"

-2018.10.18 UPDATE
EVENTS "Sophia University’s “Micronesia Exposure Tour 2018”"

-2018.9.28 UPDATE
PROJECTS "News from Haiti Vol. 8: Haiti’s Cultural Features (part 3)"

-2018.9.21 UPDATE
EVENTS "The 350th Lecture Meeting Regarding Global Issues"

-2018.9.11 UPDATE
EVENTS "Pacific Leaders Invitation Program: Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk State Young Leader Invitation Program 1"

-2018.9.6 UPDATE
EVENTS "PM Gonsalves of St. Vincent & the Grenadines Visit to Japan"

-2018.8.27 UPDATE
PROJECTS "News from Haiti Vol. 7: Haiti’s Socio-economic Condition (part 2)"

-2018.8.6 UPDATE
EVENTS "The 3rd Japan Experience Project 'SAWARA Experience'"

-2018.7.26 UPDATE
PROJECTS "News from Haiti Vol. 6: Haiti’s Socio-economic Condition (part 1)"

-2018.7.23 UPDATE
EVENTS "The Voice of the Ambassador to Micronesia"

-2018.7.19 UPDATE
EVENTS "The 349th Lecture Meeting Regarding Global Issues"

-2018.6.25 UPDATE
PROJECTS "News from Haiti Vol. 5: Haiti’s Cultural Features (part 2)"

-2018.6.25 UPDATE
PROJECTS "5th APIC Short-term Internship"

-2018.6.22 UPDATE
EVENTS "Pacific Leaders Invitation Program: Senator Urusemal, former President of FSM"

-2018.6.22 UPDATE
EVENTS "Pacific Islands and Caribbean Student Invitation Program 2018"

-2018.6.22 UPDATE
EVENTS "Xavier Exchange Students Participate in ‘All Sophian Christmas 2017’"

-2018.6.22 UPDATE
EVENTS "JICA Global Plaza Micronesia Photo Exhibit ‘Pacific Light’"

-2018.6.21 UPDATE
EVENTS "The 348th Lecture Meeting Regarding Global Issues"

-2018.5.28 UPDATE
PROJECTS "News from Haiti Vol. 4: Haiti’s Current Political Situation"

-2018.5.17 UPDATE
EVENTS "The 347th Lecture Meeting Regarding Global Issues"

-2018.5.11 UPDATE
EVENTS "Japan Achieved Successes In Micronesia Unlike Any Nation Before or Since, Says Noted Historian Francis X. Hezel, SJ"

-2018.4.26 UPDATE
PROJECTS "News from Haiti Vol. 3: Haiti’s Cultural Aspects part 1"

-2018.4.26 UPDATE
EVENTS "Pacific Islands Leader Invitation Program: Samoan Minister of Information and Communication Technology"

-2018.4.26 UPDATE
EVENTS "University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus: Principal Invitation Program"

-2018.4.19 UPDATE
EVENTS "The 346th Lecture Meeting Regarding Global Issues"

-2018.4.5 UPDATE
EVENTS "Assistance to Commemorate 25th Founding Anniversary of COM-FSM"

-2018.4.5 UPDATE
EVENTS "APIC President Peter Sato’s Visit to Micronesia"

-2018.4.5 UPDATE
EVENTS "APIC Pacific Islands Leaders Invitation Program: Mr. Yogesh Karan"

-2018.3.29 UPDATE
EVENTS "APIC-Reitaku University Student Exchange Project: Short-term Micronesia Study Abroad Program"

-2018.3.29 UPDATE
EVENTS "COM-FSM Student Invitation Program: Students to Study Abroad at Reitaku University & Sophia Junior College"

-2018.3.29 UPDATE
EVENTS "Pacific and Caribbean Journalist Invitation Program 2017"

-2018.3.29 UPDATE
EVENTS "Xavier Exchange Students Participate in Sawara Festival"

-2018.3.29 UPDATE
EVENTS "Xavier Exchange Students Participate in Oktoberfest"

-2018.3.29 UPDATE
EVENTS "Sophia University “Micronesia Exposure Tour”"

-2018.3.26 UPDATE
PROJECTS "News from Haiti Vol. 2: About the Republic of Haiti"

-2018.3.26 UPDATE
EVENTS "Assistance to Commemorate 25th Founding Anniversary of COM-FSM"

-2018.3.15 UPDATE
EVENTS "The 345th Lecture Meeting Regarding Global Issues"

-2018.2.26 UPDATE
PROJECTS "News from Haiti Vol. 1: About the Republic of Haiti"

-2018.2.15 UPDATE
EVENTS "The 344th Lecture Meeting Regarding Global Issues"

-2018.2.13 UPDATE
EVENTS "10th International Co-operation Discussion Gathering"

-2018.1.18 UPDATE
EVENTS "The 343rd Lecture Meeting Regarding Global Issues"

-2014.12.15　Update
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