Participants Voice

When my brother brought back an APCC flyer from school, my family was inspired to become a host family and welcome a boy from Malaysia into our home. From that point on, my family continued to host JAs from several other countries. My interest in different cultures grew, and my involvement with APCC expanded as I joined BRIDGE CLUB Japan and experienced homestays in Mongolia and other countries through APCC programs. APCC is a place where people of different backgrounds have the chance to interact with each other. Even though it is a mixture of various nationalities, religions, languages, and customs, APCC is still like one family. What I learned the most through APCC is that it's okay to be different. With this understanding of diversity, I was able to live with a Japanese identity even in Switzerland, where I studied abroad during my first year of high school. I wouldn't be where I am today if my family hadn't been so supportive of what I wanted to do. I am extremely grateful towards APCC for opening these doors.