Cross-country Skiing Lessons, a Series of International Students Program for Exchange with Community "Aizu Marugoto Taiken"

Commemorative photo

The University of Aizu support program for international students offered cross-country skiing lessons on Saturday, January 10. This was the 2nd event in a series following a Soba-making experience at Takasato Town in September of last year and was jointly organized by the Support Association for International Students of the University of Aizu, the Center for Strategy of International Programs, and the Inawashiro International Association. A total of 40 people, including 20 international students from Vietnam, Korea and China, faculty members, staff and Japanese student assistants, participated in the lesson.
Participants meeting at the National Bandai Youth Friendship Center in Inawashiro Town learned how to get the skis on and took walking exercises in the snow with instructors and local children from the Junior Ski Club. Then, they headed off to Showa-no-Mori Park walking in the snowy woods. In spite of the stormy weather, many international students enjoyed typical winter sports in the region for their first time.
This experience program is supported by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) and the Nakajima Foundation and the 3rd event in the series is scheduled to be held on Saturday, January 24th, to provide alpine skiing lessons at a ski resort in Inawashiro.