Students from Tokyo Cook for Community

Two weeks of intensive English study. Two weeks of American cultural immersion with home stay families across Seattle. Visits to city organizations specializing in nutrition, community outreach, and health care.
So what’s left to do?
Cook a delicious, authentic Japanese meal and share it with friends and family!
Twenty Japanese nutrition students prepared a menu of healthy and tasty Japanese dishes in a celebration at Seattle Pacific University’s Community Kitchen. On hand were the students and chaperons from Tokyo Kasei University (TKU), SPU students, and staff and faculty from INTERLINK, where TKU students had honed their English for the previous weeks.

“I really enjoyed my stay in Seattle… [the] Community Kitchen was very impressive. Also, a lecture by a Japanese dietitian was interesting. It became a great reference to think about my future.” – Mio, TKU Student

The event was the culmination of cultural and academic immersion in Seattle. Weaved around English classes at INTERLINK Language Center at SPU were trips to Farestart, a Seattle restaurant specializing in job training for homeless individuals, and Swedish Hospital, where students got a first-hand look at local community healthcare and wellness. At Bastyr University, TKU students interacted with Basytr students in an acupuncture classroom and enjoyed the organic lunch bar. Families across Seattle let TKU students into their homes, giving them precious cross-cultural memories that every student took with them back to Japan.

The students impressed everyone with their eagerness to explore Seattle, meet people on their own, and with the growth and confidence they gained.

Students from TKU have been coming to Seattle every year since 2008. TKU, an all-women’s college in Tokyo, focuses on the humanities, nursing, home economics, and child development, so the two-week nutrition program fits with university curriculum. 2018 was the annual program’s 11^th year. We look forward to 2019, when there is certain to be more learning, laughter, and of course, delicious food prepared!