The sausages were sizzling on Wednesday night as Ellenbrook Easterns Softball Social Club welcomed more than 120 Japanese homestay students, their host families and local Ellenbrook community for a friendly ball game.
The 35 Year 9 students, hosted by families in Ellenbrook and surrounding suburbs, are part of a Gold Educational Tours group of 120 students visiting Perth from Konko Gakuen High School in Okayama (west of Osaka).
Gold’s Ellenbrook Homestay Leader, Malinda Kanongata’a was pleased with the turnout and level of friendly competition enjoyed by the students and their families.
“The Japanese students just love being part of our local community during their short stays,” Mrs Kanongata’a said.
“Australian culture is so different from what they’re used to. They want to come and experience the Australian way of life.
It’s such a great experience for host families too – I personally have really loved learning things like Japanese phrases, how to make sushi and discover the many things we have in common. Baseball being such a popular sport in Japan, this was something we could really connect with.
And you can’t get more Aussie than playing sports with your mates and a sausage sizzle dinner!”
The Konko Gakuen students are staying with host families across Butler, Ellenbrook, Muchea, Dayton, Brabham, Landsdale, Mandurah, Carine and Duncraig from February 5 until February 12.
In May, Gold Educational Tours will welcome more than 50 students from Toyota Technical College who will be based around Ellenbrook and Ballajura. If your family is interested in hosting a Japanese student, visit https://www.goldil.com.au/host-mk.
