Sweet Potato Digging
There are about 380 international students, researchers and their families living in the International House, or better known as the "Kaikan" (a name commonly used by people of Kyushu University, including the international students).
Intensive studies and various activities leave international students little time to spend with their children. In addition, growing up in non-Japanese environments, their children have almost no chance to learn the Japanese language. Therefore, such families are eager to enroll their children in the local hoiku-en (nursery school).
Fortunately, there are two hoiku-ens, Azami and Kashiihama, close to the Kaikan and each of them kindly accepts more than 30 international children. Recently, as an expression of their gratitude for the kind considerations by the schools, the Kaikan invited children of the 2 hoiku-ens to participate in an exciting group activity - Sweet Potato Digging.
Last July, the Kaikan borrowed a small slit of an experimental mulberry field behind its buildings and planted sweet potatoes. On one beautiful morning in November, this troop of more than 160 children, including those of the international students and researchers, came to the Kaikan and started chatting, screaming, crying and digging sweet potatoes with their small hands.
- PHOTO
- Children Dig It
