On Sunday, August 30, 33 students from Class 1-3 of the IM Course departed for their study abroad program in Canada. They will spend approximately ten months there. For high school students, spending such a long period away from their families and friends and living overseas is a significant challenge.

The IM Course study abroad program follows the principle of “one student, one school, one host family.” Each student attends a different school and lives with a different host family. They will not have their usual classmates nearby to rely on. In an environment where the language, culture, and daily customs are different, they will need to think for themselves, make their own decisions, and navigate everyday life independently.

Of course, not every experience will be easy or enjoyable. There will be times when things do not go as expected and when students encounter challenges that are difficult to overcome. Along the way, however, they will experience new cultures and values, meet a wide variety of people, and sometimes struggle as they search for their own answers. Through these experiences, they may even discover a “new self” they had never noticed before.

What will they see, feel, and think during these ten months, and what will they bring back with them? Thirty-three completely different stories have now begun.

We hope that this study abroad experience, filled with new encounters and challenges, will become an invaluable and unforgettable part of each student’s life.