WARRNAMBOOL pupil Oliver Hammond is jetting to Japan at the end of the month as an Australian ambassador at the Asia Pacific Children’s Convention (APCC).
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APCC invites children from countries in the Asian-Pacific region to Fukuoka, Japan, to take part in a home stay and school visit program.
Oliver, 11, said he will join pupils from New Zealand, the United States and Canada, after applying with the help of his Japanese teacher Yuichi Deguchi.
“I will be going with five other children from Victoria,” the St Joseph’s Primary School pupil said. “Sensei Deguchi (his teacher) told us about the program.
“The first three or four days we will be staying at a camp with all of the other students.
“Then we will go off with our host families.
“When we stay with them we will go to a Japanese school.”
Oliver said he will present a speech about Warrnambool and what school life is like in Australia.
“I will talk about the whales and the dairy industry,” he said.
“We will also get the chance to visit temples and special places with our host families. The places that I have researched are beautiful, I’m really excited. Fukuoka is a big city. It’s on the beach like Warrnambool.”
Oliver has learnt Japanese since grade three.
“I think it’s a really interesting language to learn,” he said.
“I am interested in Japanese culture and their history.”
Oliver’s teacher Mr Deguchi said he was a mature and well-spoken pupil.
“He is very confident,” he said.
Oliver said he is curious about eating Japanese cuisine.
“I’m looking forward to trying the food, especially seafood,” he said.
“It’s a great opportunity.”
