Being a student at Geiko, the Graduate School of Design of Kyushu University makes each day a new experience, not only in terms of learning in classes or laboratories (which is very interesting), but also in making new friends and exploring different cultures, which I personally find fascinating.

Within the curriculum, there is a Studio Project with the theme “Intercultural Dialogue.” This class aims to connect international and Japanese students to foster a broader dialogue and strengthen the sense of belonging both to Geiko and among themselves, thereby enhancing the community among these students.

This year’s project was decided and led by students. The initial phases were dedicated to defining the type of activity that could be carried out to achieve its goal. Based on the preferences of the students, it was decided to organize a cultural exchange party with various fun, educational, and interactive activities among students. Additionally, the goal was to gather information and feedback from attendees to enhance the international atmosphere at Geiko.

The day of the party finally arrived! I was thrilled to discover the activities I could enjoy and to make new friends—individuals whom I might have seen on campus but hadn’t yet had the pleasure of meeting. (It’s worth mentioning that prior to the event, I had filled out a form presenting various activities from which I could choose at least two.)

Upon entering, I could see everything decorated to give a warm welcome, truly inviting everyone to participate in the festivities. After greeting some friends, I headed straight to the Jenga game. The rules were the same as the main game, but with a twist: each participant had to share some personal information with the group, and if someone made a mistake, they had to eat a sour candy, which, by the way, was quite delicious. After my Jenga game, I moved to the video game area, where we could enjoy a game created by fellow students. This game could be downloaded directly to our smartphones using a QR code. It was a lot of fun, and laughter was abundant.

After experiencing exciting moments with the games, I moved on to the activity I had been looking forward to the most: the Japanese cooking class! We prepared onigiris, and after registering, I sat at a long table. The activity leaders guided us step by step through the preparation, showing us a video and giving instructions concurrently. It was enjoyable because I had to make my own onigiri and one for the person sitting next to me. This was particularly interesting because the person next to me was a vegetarian, and there were thoughtful options for her as well. Engaging in conversation and getting to know her, I was able to make a delicious kimchi onigiri for her.

As the main party began, there was a trivia contest featuring questions from different countries (I loved seeing questions from Guatemala). It was so much fun that, without realizing it, the organizers had already changed the arrangement of the tables, and we moved on to the banquet! While enjoying a delicious meal, we were assigned numbers at different tables and given two games: “Guess Your Character” and “The Werewolf.” In the first game, we had to ask questions to other participants to guess our character, while in the second game, we had to uncover an impostor based on the information given on a card. The entire event was harmonious and enjoyable, with snacks throughout and a delicious meal. In the end, everyone was sharing and getting to know each other, and the final touch was a beautiful group photo, along with gaining many new friends, Instagram contacts, and an unforgettable experience.

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About the Writer

I am an international master’s student from Guatemala. I have a passion for design, photography, and writing. I enjoy storytelling and making new friends, which I find incredibly interesting. Join me and get ready for an unforgettable journey through Japanese culture.

Hector Alejandro Palomo Reyes
Graduate School of Design
Media Design Course