The annual Ship for South East Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) is sponsored by the Japanese Government and supported by ASEAN countries, bringing more than 300 youths of different nationalities and ethnic groups together on board Fuji Maru.This is the 37th year for the SSEAYP, and I am very glad to be part of it.
From Wednesday, 1 December, to Friday, 3 December, I was hosting two Participating Youths (PY) from the Laos Contingent and Cambodia Contingent (therefore the absence of posts here). It was a unique experience for me and I get to know more about the two countries without having to travel there. I was also able to grasp more information about this event from my PYs.
The PYs from each ASEAN countries (28 from each country) will fly over to Japan for 10 days and stay at local homes for 1 day 2 nights. On the other days, they will be on board the Fuji Maru and participate in various discussion and activities with youths from different countries. On the 11th day, the Fuji Maru will embark and set sail for the designated ASEAN countries. This year, PYs get to stay at local homes of Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam for four days each, interacting and exchanging cultures with the locals every time. The whole program will last for about 40 days this year.
I think this program is really interesting as to how Japan collaborates with all the member countries of ASEAN and bring about such a unique cultural exchange hub. I really hope that I will be able to represent Singapore as a PY in 2012, when I graduate, and of course, I will definitely be hosting more PYs next year if there is a chance.
Me and my PY from Cambodia enjoying our ice-creams by the Singapore River.
We said "see ya!" and not "goodbye".
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