English Edition No.92 2023
.9Volunteer Work at KIEF

1At the Kanazawa International Exchange Foundation, we host a range of projects run by volunteers from all over the world.

We would like to introduce just a few of these opportunities and pass on some words from our volunteers. Why don’t you try
volunteering at KIEF too?

English Cruise Ships Volunteers
Our

English-language

cruise volunteers respondto inquiries from foreign
passengers

andcrew

members when a cruise
ship calls at Kanazawa

Port. They provide a rangeof information in English, from how to get to touristattractions in the city, to information about the Port area.

Thanks to their hard work, guests from all over the world
are able enjoy the city of Kanazawa to the fullest.

Words from our volunteers: “People had so manyquestions; it was like I was on vacation myself!” “Itwas my ﬁrst time ever taking part, but―thanks tothe help of the Port staff and other volunteers―it
was a really fun experience.”

Mother and Baby HealthAt the Kanazawa
CityWelfareandHealthCenter,volunteer interpreterssupport communication
between nurses andforeign residents during
infant health checkups and well-baby visits.
Words from our volunteers: “Those who move toKanazawa from overseas are all a part of themulticultural society Kanazawa City is aiming tofoster. Iʼve only lived in Kanazawa for a year, but Iʼmreally grateful for the opportunity to participate in
the local community like this. I really hope thatpeople from overseas will feel enriched by the work
we do here and become a link in our chain ofinternational exchange.”

Cultural Lessons
During these sessions,

Events for Children
Foreignexchange

volunteers

introduce

students in Kanazawa

aspectsof

theircan volunteer to teachculture

toJapaneseown

elementaryschoolresidents. This includes

students

everythingculture and language offromabout

homethetraditional dishes, to facts

theircountry.

about the country itself.

The volunteer in theOne volunteer from Slovakia showed residents how tophoto taught children about a range of Chinese children’s

make halušky and Slovakian apple pie.

games.

Words from our volunteers: “I donʼt really get

Words from our volunteers: “This is the ﬁrst time

much opportunity to tell people about Slovakia, so IIʼve ever volunteered for an event like this so I really

was really happy to see so many people interested

wanted to make sure the children enjoyed it. It wasin my home country. Iʼm so glad I was able to reallya lot of fun!”connect with the people of Kanazawa through food.”12

Messages from our Coordinators for International Relations

In April and August this year, Kanazawa welcomed 3 new CIRs. Sadly, we also have to say goodbye to Linda, who isleaving after starting work as a CIR in July, 2 whole years ago! Here are a few words from them all:Jimin Lee from Korea
Hello, everyone! My name is Jiminand I’m the new Korean CIR fromDaegu.
I majored in Japanese and Tourism
Management at university. My hobbies
include singing, watching movies andgoing for walks. The main reason I
became a CIR is because I love both
Korea and Japan equally and wanted to work as a bridge
between the two cultures. My job as a CIR has really been a
fun and fulfilling experience so far.
I didn’t arrive here all that long ago, but I’m already gettingused to life in Kanazawa and am deeply attached to this city.
I’m really glad I was given the opportunity to work here.
Kanazawa is a wonderful place for tourism, with all of its
history and tradition still intact. Every street is so beautiful thatit doesn’t matter where you walk – it’s always a feast for theeyes. I can’t wait to explore more and take even more picturesof Kanazawa. I’ll do my best at work too, obviously. I lookforward to seeing you all around!

Yuhui Yang from China
Hello, everyone! I’m the Coordinatorfor International Relations (CIR) from
China, Yang Yuhui. I started working in
Kanazawa in April this year. I canhardly believe it’s already been almost
half a year. This is my first time living inJapan, so I was rather worried at first.
Thanks to the kindness of everyone
around me (especially those at CityHall), I got used to life here in no time.
Kanazawa is a wonderful city; steeped in history, embracingof the modern and blessed with rich nature. I’m able tothoroughly enjoy all these aspects of Kanazawa life on mydays off by visiting all kinds of historical and contemporary
locations of cultural importance.
I have also had amazing and fulfilling opportunities at work,
such as Fairtrade tie-dyeing, teaching children about China
and making chimaki origami, and I still haven’t evenparticipated in that many events yet! I can’t wait to share evenmore of China’s charm with Kanazawa and share even moreof Kanazawa’s charm with China.
I can’t wait to see what Kanazawa life brings from now on!

Ellie Boocock from England

Linda Liu from America

Hello, everyone. I’m Ellie, one of the
new Coordinators for InternationalRelations.
I was born and raised in Yorkshire,England, also known for its proudhistory and abundant countryside. For
this reason, even though I’ve only beenin Kanazawa for a very short time, italready feels like home. I can’t wait to find out everything
Kanazawa has to offer.
My walk to work past Kenrokuen and the 21st Century
Museum of Contemporary Art is representative of everythingamazing about Kanazawa. The dedication to preserving
history and investing in both the present and the future isreally moving. I also really love that there are so manydifferent libraries and hope I can read in all of them!
Even though I’ve been nervous, everyone has been kindand supportive every step of the way. I can’t wait to gain more
and more confidence and experience everything life here has
to offer.

Hello, everyone! I’m Linda, the(former) American CIR. I can’t believe
my time as a CIR is already at an end. I
still remember getting off the bullet train
and passing through Tsuzumi-mon
Gate for the first time as if it wasyesterday. I was a bundle of nervesandanxiety—WhatifIcan’t
communicate with my coworkers? What if I burn my apartment
down?—but I needn’t have worried.
Over the last two years, I have made so many unforgettable
memories and met so many wonderful people. I got to spend
two Christmases making cookies and cupcakes with
Kanazawa families; share my favorite picture books with kids;
connect with monks, Kutani ware artisans, and volunteers
from all walks of life; and spread my love of English andAmerican culture through crafts and games. I can’t say
enough how thankful I am to everyone at KIEF and city hall for
supporting, encouraging, and indulging me. I don’t know whatawaits me but wish me luck! So long and thanks for all thefish!

Contact Information

Kanazawa International Exchange Foundation

To Kanaiwa

Rifare 2F, 1-5-3 Honmachi, Kanazawa-shi,
920-0853

Phone（076）220-2522
F A X（076）220-2527
URL : http://www.kief.jp
E-mail : kief@kief.jp

2waazaKan tation
STo Naruwa

ANA CROWNE PLAZA hotel
Hotel Nikko
To Sanja★ KIEF (Rifare 2F)
To Musashi