KYS-YSFH: A friendship that knows no bounds

By Emma Nour and Syed Farihin Aiman

Sweet is the memory of distant friends, like the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls tenderly, yet sadly, on the heart.

Washington Irvin

Distance has never been an issue when it comes to maintaining a strong bond between Kolej Yayasan Saad (KYS) and Yokohama Science Frontier High School (YSFH), Japan.

Even though things took a toll due to the restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic, nothing was stopping us from continuing our annual exchange programme and marking this year as the fourteenth year since we first started in 2009.

Greetings and warm welcomes

A welcoming speech was given by Haruna Komuku, a YSFH student followed by self-introductions of each participant. Each participant took a turn to tell everyone a little about themselves, mostly regarding their background and interests.

Although the participants shared a common interest in similar things, the aspect of the matters still differed slightly. The clubs at YSFH conduct various activities, some of which were very interesting and peeked our interest.

A symbol of faith

The programme moved on with a presentation on tourist attractions in Japan by Ms. Yui Yamauchi and Mr. Kousei Aoki. One of the attractions presented was Mount Fuji, which so happens to be considered a symbol of faith for the Japanese.

A video presentation on the tourist attractions in Malaysia was also conducted for the Japanese students, highlighting a few of the most prominent landmarks in Malaysia. The participants then engaged in a Q&A session, sharing their thoughts and questions with one another.

Folk songs from the heart

A spectacular showcase of cultural exchange was held, where each school performed a a song selected from each other’s culture. The YSFH students indulged the participants in a joyful rendition of Rasa Sayang, while the KYS students performed Furusato, a Japanese song about feelings of nostalgia and memories of a childhood home.

The programme concluded with a farewell speech by Irdina Aqeelah, and as woeful as it is to bid them goodbye, we know for a fact that distance can only make the heart grow fonder.