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Our International Christmas, Madoka (Japan) Franca (Italy) Caroline, Ben & Meechai (Thailand)

JAPAN - Madoka Yoshikawa

I have probably met more Japanese students than any other nationality simply because of the Japanese Intensive Language Program. As the title suggests it is a six-week program designed by AFS to improve the Japanese young people’s English speech ability and to understand spoken English and our culture. I organized JLP for Launceston Chapter in 1996, 1997 and 1998 and enjoyed meeting the students and showing them our beautiful island.
In 1997 we hosted a Japanese student in our house – her name was Madoka Yoshikawa

Madoka had just turned 17 when she came to Tasmania. She lives in the city of Osaka with her parents Masami and Yukari and younger sister, Akane. Masami is a dentist so he would be very busy with all the teeth in Osaka!
Madoka was a quiet young lady, very polite and a keen student willing to learn about the Australian way of life. She had a wonderful knowledge of the English language structure and could write beautiful English. Her weakness was her English speaking ability but after the six week program, and like most of the students in the group was understanding and speaking English with a great deal of confidence – the change in the students was quite amazing.
Madoka loved the lifestyle at Newstead College being much more relaxed and with the student having the ability to select subjects unheard of in Japan – for instance did “woodwork” as an option and was so proud of the coasters she made.
Like all International students our wombat, koala and kangaroos were particular favourites with Madoka as was the Salamanca market.
Madoka just loved her stay in Tasmania and on departure day she was in tears at breakfast time and I think that was the case until late in the day departing from Launceston Airport. You see Madoka loved the lifestyle so much and had such a wonderful experience that she did not want to go home.

Madoka makes friends with wombat.

Madoka with her Tassie devil leaving for Japan.

Since her return to Japan Madoka has undertaken part time work as well as attending University. At one stage she had three jobs one of which was teaching English – and a wonderful English teacher she would make.
Madoka had promised to return and in December 1999 she arrived in Launceston to experience her first Christmas.

This was my International Christmas as Franca (Italy) and Meechai (Thailand) also enjoyed Christmas dinner with us – sitting outside on my deck in brilliant sunshine enjoying Christmas Ham and Turkey. As my three friends came from the Northern Hemisphere, and apart from Meechai would probably be snowing and extremely cold for Christmas it was a real novelty to have a “summer” Christmas.

Madoka has also been to England on an English study program and is now employed in Osaka by JUN ASHIDA a leading Japanese fashion house.
Madoka will always have a special place in my heart.