Kagoshima-Junshin Girls High School.

Last week we farewelled our wonderful group from Kagoshima. This School has a long relationship with Darfield and as a school, we love welcoming them back each year. I had the pleasure of spending time with the girls before they arrived in New Zealand. During that time we talked about what they were excited about and what they were most looking forward to while they were at our School. We also talked about what they were nervous about, all of the girls had similar concerns but the main one was how they could become friends with their Darfield buddies. These concerns proved to be short-lived. On day 1 our amazing Kapa haka students performed a beautiful welcome. Our visitors responded with an outstanding version of Te Aroha. Afterwards, both groups of students shared Kai and instantly made some wonderful connections. Throughout the 2 weeks, we watched the friendships grow and develop into lifelong friendships. This is why we welcome International students to our school. Introducing our students to other cultures is a hugely rewarding experience.