On Saturday, June 28, Nagasaki Wesleyan Univesity international students from Thailand, the Phillipines, and China joined with Japanese students for a beach trip to celebrate the start of summer. The event was held at Yui no Hama, a beautiful beach about an hour from campus. International students also joined the trip, and everyone had a great time together.

The purpose of the day was simple — to enjoy summer, meet new people, and relax. Some students swam in the ocean, while others played beach volleyball or sunbathed on the sand. A few brave students even took turns diving from the concrete edges near the shore.

We ate bento lunches together on the beach and shared stories about our hometowns and summer traditions. Some students talked about fireworks festivals in Japan, while others spoke about spending time with family, hiking, or going to the mountains in their home countries.

One of the best parts of the day was the feeling of connection. Students who had never met before were laughing and playing games together. Language didn’t matter—everyone was smiling, helping each other, and learning more about different cultures.

By the end of the day, we were a little tired, a little sunburned, but very happy. It was a great way to start the summer and to build friendships outside the classroom.