Dayuan Elementary School in Puyan Township, Changhua County, recently completed a five-day international exchange trip to Kuga Elementary in Japan's Chiba Prefecture, embarking on a cultural exchange journey titled 'Little Diplomats Dream Journey.' Despite being a small rural school, many upper-grade students actively participated, most of whom were on their first overseas trip, making this experience particularly cherished. A sharing session was held on the 28th, where students recounted their memorable experiences.

At Kuga Elementary, the students not only experienced changing into indoor shoes and enjoying lunch typical of Japanese schools, but they also felt the importance of cleanliness and manners that the Japanese culture emphasizes. To prepare for the exchange, students made self-introductions in Japanese and showcased their talents through dance and singing performances, demonstrating their learning and confidence. In return, students from Japan enthusiastically performed traditional festival songs and dances, fostering a lively atmosphere of cultural exchange.

The afternoon's curriculum focused on 'Sustainable Development,' where Kuga Elementary students shared their practices on plastic reduction and recycling, discussing the UN's SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) with their Taiwanese counterparts. The students also engaged in calligraphy and traditional spinning top games, bringing them closer through laughter and hands-on activities. At the end of the exchange, students from both schools exchanged souvenirs and contact information, hoping to maintain an ongoing interaction through online platforms to deepen their friendship.

In addition to the school exchanges, students visited Chiba Tower, science museums, and Narita's Shinshoji Temple, traveling on the Guinness World Record-certified longest suspended monorail, expanding their learning perspective from technology to history. Principal Liu Weilun expressed gratitude for the support of various foundations and parental cooperation, emphasizing that face-to-face cultural exchanges allow children not just to learn languages but to cultivate empathy and diverse perspectives, which is an essential part of practicing international education.