Smiling, laughing, and falling, figuratively and literally, in love with a new activity.
Those were the reactions of Japanese exchange students at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club this afternoon (March 27) who all tried the sport of curling for the first time.
The experience for the near 25 youth from the country’s capital city of Tokyo is part of a two-week program with College Heights Secondary School (CHSS), which has taken place every year for more than a decade-and-a-half.
“Obviously, this is not the best time of year for these kids to be visiting Prince George with it being dusty and dirty,” Sister School Exchange Program Coordinator Alison McNeill told PrinceGeorgeMatters. “Not our brightest, but we try to show them what we can such as curling, and this is just one stop among many. We went to Exploration Place today, and next week, we will be at College Heights for classes.”
She added the kids knew about this on their itinerary, but immediately got nerves hearing about something so uniquely Canadian.
“This is the eighth group that I’ve done this, and we’re now doing the program every year, which includes curling. They get excited and they have fun, which is much more important than trying to be the best. It’s all about the experience.”
Students were taught how to sweep, slide, throw stones, and, of course, curl the rock up the sheet of ice and into the house.
For Taiga, one of the Japanese students, he says maintaining his balance was the hardest part.
“It is a very interesting game, but for the first time, it was really fun. It is a little hard and I fall sometimes.
Taiga added he was very happy to be experiencing Canada for the first time and is looking forward to the rest of the trip.
“I am very happy to be here; it has been a lot of fun. I look forward to going to Ness Lake soon.”
On top of all the different activities, such as curling, McNeill says the number one feedback the program receives from students is spending time away from school with their host families.
“That’s the real precious time. The host families take really good care of the kids. They go to Barkerville, they go skiing, some go to Jasper, and some even go out to the farmland to see horses and learn about agriculture. Things they don’t necessarily get to do in Tokyo, they get to try out over here.”
The young adults were accompanied by 25 local students from CHSS and were taught by senior members of the Curling Club.
