先日、6月18日（水）から3日間、5年生が
久米島へ離島体験に行ってきました。
昨年も5年生（現6年生）が11月に久米島離島体験に参加しましたが、
今年は初の試みとしてホームビジットに参加したりと
いろいろな体験をしてきました。内容も盛りだくさんの3日間ということで、
今回はせっかくなので3回に渡って久米島での離島体験を
報告させていただきたいと思います ！
Grade 5 students went on a 3-day school trip last week from June 18th to 20th to Kumejima, an island located approximately 62 miles west from Naha. Last November, Grade 5 students (present Grade 6 students) went to Kumejima also but for this time, the students got to participate in a program called “Home Visit”. This is a program where you can spend some time with the local families at their homes. There were various programs and activities during the 3-day school trip so I would like to take this opportunity to share what the students learned and experienced at the beautiful island, Kumejima!
さて、ご存知の方もいらっしゃると思いますが、離島体験というのは、
沖縄県が離島推進事業として広げている事業で、費用なども県が負担しています。
「将来を担う児童生徒が、離島の重要性、特殊性及び魅力に対する認識を深める
とともに、沖縄本島と離島との交流促進により、離島地域の活性化を図ること」
を目的としています。過疎化や少子化などの離島の問題を沖縄本島内の人にも
知ってもらうために沖縄本島内の小学5年生および中学生を対象に行っています。
5 years ago, the Okinawa Prefecture implemented a new promotional program for the outer islands of Okinawa for Grade 5 students and Junior High School students. The purpose of this program is for the students to learn and experience the importance, specialness and the fascination of outer islands and also to help revitalize the outer islands through the interaction between the main island of Okinawa and the outer islands. Depopulation and low birth rate are some serious problems occurring at the outer islands. The Okinawa prefecture and the citizens of outer islands are hoping that this program would help enhance the awareness of the problems and promote cooperation and exchanges with people from the main island of Okinawa and the other regions of Japan.
学校を出発し、那覇空港の待合室でお弁当を食べた後、
空路で久米島に向かいました。
After departure from school, the students headed to Naha airport by bus. They had a little lunch at the departure lounge and off they go to Kumejima on the whale shark plane!
約30分で久米島空港に到着し、離島体験でお世話になる久米島の方々とご挨拶。
入島式では、町長の挨拶に始まり、子どもたちよりお世話になる民家の方々への
挨拶、民家の方々の紹介などが行われました。
その後、8つのグループに分かれて早速ホームビジット先へと向かいました。
After a 30-minute flight, they arrived at the Kumejima Airport. The host families of the “Home Visit” program welcomed the students with a sign and a big warm smile. The students had a brief orientation at the airport. Speech by the mayor, speech by the students and the introduction of the host families were given. All Grade 5 students in 8 different groups were all excited to visit their new “homes” at Kumejima.
ホームビジットとは、島の方々の民家にお邪魔して交流を図る
体験学習プログラムです。今回、初の試みとして
アミークス5年生がこのプログラムに参加しました。
島に到着してすぐに大雨となってしまったのですが、
島の穴場観光スポットに行ったり、夕食用の貝を採ったり、
畑の手伝いやサーターアンダギー作り、夕食作りのお手伝い、
一緒にご飯を食べ、お風呂に入ってと、
とても密で楽しい時間を過ごせたようです！
To explain more about “Home Visit”, it is a program where you visit the homes of the local families such as pineapple farmers, guest house owners, ceramics artist, nature guide, fisherman, traditional dancer and so on. You can spend some quality time together working on the farms, going to secret sight seeing spots, gathering shellfish, baking Okinawan doughnut, help cook dinner, eat dinner together and much more. The Grade 5 students were the very first to join this program at AMICUS.
夜8時半ごろ、バスで子どもたちを迎えに行ったのですが、
みんなバスが出発した後もずっと手を振って別れを惜しんでいたのが
印象的でした。子どもたちはみんな良い経験が出来たようですね♪
The students were picked up at their “homes” at around 8:30pm. They kept waiving to their host families until they could not see them anymore… When the students arrived at Kumejima it started to rain very hard but it seems they were able to enjoy many activities with their host families. Many happy faces 🙂
2日目ににつづく。。。
To Be Continued to Day 2…