The 8th graders of Amicus International conducted their school trip from January 12th to 16th. The destination was Hong Kong, a region that was once a British colony and is now rapidly undergoing a process of Sinicization. I am confident that this trip to Hong Kong, a place undergoing such significant change, was a deeply meaningful experience for the students.

The highlight of the trip was the interaction with St. Stephen’s College, which we visited on the second day. This school, with a 120-year history, is a traditional institution. Despite its name including “College,” it functions as a secondary school that combines both middle and high school. With a student population exceeding 900 and a sprawling 15-hectare campus, it left a strong impression. To me, this area seemed to retain a distinctly British atmosphere, unlike other parts of Hong Kong. At this school, much like Amicus, most lessons are conducted in English, except for Chinese and a few other subjects.

During the exchange session, the 8th graders from Amicus gave presentations introducing the history and culture of Okinawa as well as their school, and they also performed a karate demonstration as a group. On the other hand, students from St. Stephen’s College introduced their school and showcased a choir and instrumental performance. This was followed by casual interactions among middle school students over snacks, and campus tours conducted by high school students in groups.

One particularly memorable moment for me was meeting a group of three middle school students who enthusiastically approached me. They spoke fluent English and passionately shared the joys of their school life. Meanwhile, Amicus students were equally proactive, with some girls teaching Japanese phrases like “yabai” (amazing), “kimoi” (gross), and “bimyo” (so-so) to the Hong Kong high school students during the campus tour.

I plan to take my time to learn more about the conversations the students had during the exchange. Nevertheless, I strongly believe that the significance of young people of the same generation overcoming differences in language and culture to connect through English is invaluable, as they are the ones who will shape the future of the world.