Youth Committee Member Impact

1. This was a good experience, I got to see what goes into planning an event like this. I participated in Children’s Day and it was interesting to be on the other side of the event this time.
2. It was interesting to see how different people present in different ways, it helped me come up with ways to teach in the future.
3. I felt validated by my adult counterpart for my session.
4. I loved working on the planning team, I was able to bring my own piece to the group puzzle.
5. I enjoyed seeing our hard work pay off and our ideas come alive.

Adult Committee Member Impact

1. My program has not done virtual outreach until this experience, this gave me great ideas for how to continue cultural awareness programs in the virtual environment.
2. This gave me a chance to connect with the youth audience. Before this experience I focused on program administration. This gave me a chance to share my culture with others.
3. Through this experience I learned how to encourage youth voice and work in an equal partnership.
4. The partnership between the four organizations enhanced the quality of experience we were able to provide.
5. I was blown away by the eagerness of learning about other cultures by the program participants. The expression of their desire reinforces the need for more cultural awareness opportunities and validates the work of 4-H global, cultural and international education programs.
6. 4-H is all about shining a light on youth voice, and this program was a great example of that at work. It was wonderful to see the teens empowered to share their ideas, teach much of the content, and grow through the process.

What did you share with others about your experience in the 4-H Japanese Girls’ Day Celebration?

1. How to make eatable Hina Dolls.
2. We wished happy Hinamatsuri to our Japanese friends and talked about dolls and chirashi-zushi.
3. I shared the Japanese words I learned.
4. Origami, cooking with others again, talked about Girls’ Day and other special Japanese days
5. Radio Taiso
6. Cooking and writing Haiku
7. The food!
8. I shared about the customs I learned about.
9. The song about Girls’ Day and origami pieces.

What surprised you most about the Japanese culture from what you learned during this experience?

1. The longevity of the traditions.
2. It is very similar to other cultures I know about.
3. The holidays!
4. The difference between daily life and celebrations
5. They have a lot of packaged food.
6. How they write words.
7. Japanese Girls’ Day is also known as Peach Day
8. The youth are into much of the same things that Americans are.
9. I was surprised by the exactness and detail that was spent on all the preparations for the celebration.
10. The exercise was surprising to me.
11. Tradition is serious. All things are beautiful.

What was the most interesting things you learned from this experience?

1. How rich the Japanese culture is.
2. Hinamatsuri is interesting.
3. The dolls
4. All the different traditions in the one celebration
5. How to make food
6. Te means hands and arms
7. That is took approximately two hours to put on a Kimono.
8. There is much to be learned from other cultures. Families in different countries have different ways and traditions for promoting happiness and good fortune.
9. Learning about the clothing worn on Girls’ Day

What was the most enjoyable about this experience?

1. Learning new things!
2. All the sessions were great, I enjoyed learning from the young adults living in Japan and individuals who are Japanese, I enjoyed the sushi making.
3. Interacting with others
4. I learned so much each time, I liked the program’s set-up.
5. Cooking
6. Food
7. Being able to learn from someone who live in Japan.
8. Learning language and Japanese words
9. Radio Taiso
10. Origami Dolls

Was there anything in the Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about?

1. Other festivals
2. Japanese people are very respectful, I would like to learn more about their school and home—respecting elders, family, property.
3. Honestly, everything!
4. Homelife and family traditions.
5. I would like to learn about Japanese culture as a whole!
6. The language
7. What old customs do they still follow?
8. Japanese music and art
9. More origami
10. More word practice

Why do you think it is important for young people to participate in culture education experiences?

1. We live in an interconnected world.
2. It’s a small world and we need to be able to appreciate all cultures and differences.
3. I think its very important due to the fact that we should all make an effort to understand others.
4. Cultural understanding creates friendships for life. Conflicts less likely with those that you have interacted with in the past.
5. It helps them to be more inclusive of others.
6. To broaden their world viewpoint
7. Learning experiences
8. To learn about others
9. Youth need to learn about the customs and ‘curiosities’ of other cultures so that they can learn to appreciate and respect them.
10. We are the future. As individuals, we become a part of everyone we meet; every culture we experience.  Every culture we learn about helps us to connect with and understand other people around the world. The more that we understand, the better we become at solving common world problems together.
11. We need to learn about others so we don’t misunderstand.