| Australian Volleyball Team Visits IUJ |
Public Relations
Oct. 17, 2008 |
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The 14 players and officials of the “Norwood Bears” volleyball team, Australia’s 2008 Adelaide City League Champions, visited IUJ on October 15 and formed a friendship with IUJ students. During their trip to Japan, which is supported by a grant from the Australia-Japan Foundation, they will be playing several friendly matches and participating in numerous cultural community activities between October 9 and 17.
Mr. Andrew Hunter, a setter on the team, actually studied at IUJ’s Graduate School of International Relations in the winter term of 2002 as an exchange student from the University of Adelaide. He took the initiative and played a major role in choosing Minami Uonuma City in Niigata as their cultural exchange partner in the application to the Australia-Japan Foundation. “I am really happy,” Andy said, “to be back to Japan and IUJ with my teammates. Although I need to keep an eye on them so they won’t enter rooms with their shoes on, it’s good to see that they are all enjoying their stay. In my volleyball career, I have had so many good experiences. I want to give something back to the volleyball community, and that is one of the reasons that I joined this team. It is my hope that the Japanese teams we get to know in this trip will visit us in Australia next year and that we will be a cultural bridge between the two countries.”
One of his teammates, Ms. Julie-Anne Laxton, a passer/hitter, also spoke with us. She said, “I am staying with a family in Muikamachi. They are so welcoming and generous. With great help from two English-speaking daughters, I enjoy chatting with the family. It’s been a wonderful experience.” Mr. Dale West, the team manager, said, “IUJ is in a great environment with such beautiful nature. And it is amazing to know how diverse IUJ’s community is with 40 nationalities in less than 300 students!”
The “Norwood Bears” team members have been busy with various activities such as a courtesy call to the Niigata Prefectural Government, tours to temples and shrines, cultural learning of Zen meditation and the tea ceremony, training sessions for junior players, etc. The only official activity after their visit to IUJ is a farewell party, and they are planning to fly back to Australia on October 17.
All of us at IUJ hope that the team’s friendly visit to Japan will promote cultural exchanges further between Australia and Japan.
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