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Student will experience Japan on Rotary Exchange

Recent graduate Aline Nasselquist is heading back to high school this September – this time on a different continent.
Exchange
Outgoing Rotary exchange student Aline Nasselquist will spend the next year in Japan learning its language and culture. - PHOTO BY CYNTHIA BIGRIGG

Recent graduate Aline Nasselquist is heading back to high school this September – this time on a different continent.

Nasselquist will take part in the Rotary Youth Exchange program during the 2018-2019 school year in a part of Japan she said she’s not quite sure how to pronounce.

“I’m going to Japan, and basically what I do is I go to high school there. I live with other families that are called host families, and I get to know the culture and I’m immersed in the language.”

Nasselquist said she had been considering an exchange since she was 15.

“I just really wanted to see more of the world, learn more about different cultures and just explore.”

To prepare for her trip abroad, Nasselquist has been learning Japanese from tutoring program on a smartphone app provided by the Rotary Club.

“It says a word, and we repeat it, and we try to learn that way,” said Nasselquist.

“It does get difficult because we don’t know if we’re saying it correctly. My friend that speaks fluent Japanese, I was doing my lesson, and she was like ‘You said that wrong. You said that wrong, too.’”

Still, Nasselquist is fascinated by the language, and looks forward to learning more about Japanese culture. Japan was her second choice for an exchange country, after France. And while she recently left the textbooks behind, one of the things Nasselquist is most excited about is heading back to school.

“I’m honestly really excited to go to school. It’s sort of like a private school I’m going to – we all wear uniforms. I’m also excited to be in a city.”

Despite her excitement, Nasselquist said she is nervous about the language barrier and the difference in atmosphere.

“I think about how tightly packed everything is going to be compared to here.”

While on exchange in Japan, Nasselquist will have some obligations to the Rotary Club that will host her. She will also have the opportunity to travel to different areas of the country.

Nasselquist will also be in close proximity to former Japanese exchange student Yumi Yamaguchi, who spent the 2017-2018 school year in Flin Flon.

“We’re not going to the same school, but we’ll be in the same area,” said Nasselquist, who will have the opportunity to meet exchange students from all over the world during Rotary meetups and conferences.

As for what Nasselquist will miss most about Flin Flon while she is away, “For some reason, my mind just goes to trees. I love nature, and so it’s going to be different not having it right beside my house.”

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