Eighty-four people, representing more than thirty?countries, ?gathered at Kansai International Center to chat about their homelands. Those participating in the cross-cultural event included forty-one?members from ica and Kansai International Center, as well as forty-three Japanese?community members.

What impressed you most about today’s chat? (from foreign participants)

• I was impressed that some of the interlocutors had knowledge about my homeland. They were very much interested in my country and its culture, cuisine and history.( Armenia)
• ?It is very interesting to speak with Japanese people, and know more about Japan and its traditional culture (events, ceremonies) .(Algeria)
• ?I liked it very much. I learned Japanese words and Kanji. They are very kind and lovely people.( Columbia)
• ?-the communication skills of the volunteers and their cordial behavior.( Bangladesh)
• ?I had the opportunity to talk with Japanese people using Japanese. I learnt some useful words.( Sri Lanka)
• Today I liked getting in contact with people. In occasions like this one we can easily get to know new people and discover a lot : just travelling with the mind.(Italy)
• …There is much that [people] do not know about my country. So the participants seemed interested to learn about Guyana.(Guyana)

What impressed you most about today’s chat??(from Japanese participants)

• Someone showed me how to braid without a mirror or comb. I was surprised how skillfully it was done.
• Moldova is a world leader in wine production.
• It was interesting to find out about countries that I hadn’t known like?Burundi, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It was also interesting that people in these countries use?multiple languages; this is different than Japan.
• It was impressive to see everyone sharing their own countries.
• In Bangladesh a woman’s societal status is higher than that of women in Japan.
• I had a chance to meet a diplomat that I had met before and I’m looking forward to the next time.

On?a?Wednesday afternoon in October, Hineno Elementary School students had a chance to learn about various?cultures of the world thanks to ica’s?Exciting World program.