Brody O’brien (16) Ingleburn High School

During my stay in Japan, a specific day stood out to me. This was the day that my host family invited their family and friends over into their home to have a BBQ. It was a truly amazing day where many foods were eaten and shared including foods I had never had before like cow tongue and foods the others had never had before like vegemite at Australian favorite. In the afternoon, the children ran around playing sport and I joined in for a game of badminton. The reason that this day stood out to me was that it showed how the Australian and Japanese cultures share similarities in the way we celebrate with friends and family and the way that we use food to bring people together. Because of these similarities this day really stood out to me but also because of the way that the family celebrated with me a stranger from a foreign land.
Without any hesitation the Matsuzawa family had allowed me into their lives and not just for a BBQ but for my entire two week stay in Japan and for that I would like to thank the Matsuzawa family with all of my heart. Thank you.