YOUTH VOICES FROM OKINAWA • IRELAND
Student story: Annie Hughes • Ireland
A Spanish playlist might seem like a small souvenir from a leadership programme in Japan. For Annie Hughes, it became a reminder of just how much of the world there still is to discover.
Annie travelled from Ireland to Okinawa hoping to broaden her horizons and become a better global citizen. She wanted to learn about Japanese and Okinawan culture, but she was equally curious about the cultures of the young people travelling alongside her.
From the beginning, Okinawa challenged her senses. The brilliant colours of the sea and sand, unfamiliar plants and unmistakable sound of cicadas were far removed from home. But it was people, rather than landscapes, that became central to Annie’s experience.
At Naha Nishi High School, she observed classes, joined students for dance practice and experienced a school environment very different from the one she knew in Ireland. The large grounds and outdoor design caught her attention, while conversations with Japanese students gave her the chance to compare their experiences and discover the similarities hidden within the differences.
Her host family made an even deeper impression. Annie’s favourite memory was the weekend she spent with them exploring Okinawa. They made a special effort to show her around, including visits to Okinawa World, and their kindness made an unfamiliar country feel remarkably like home.
That welcome has influenced the kind of leader Annie wants to be herself. Having experienced what it means for someone to make a visitor feel included, she hopes to offer the same warmth to international students visiting Ireland.
The programme also strengthened Annie’s interest in languages and intercultural communication. Meeting participants from around the world affirmed how much she enjoys learning about other cultures, and has even influenced how she is thinking about her future studies.
There were more serious lessons too. Learning about coral bleaching showed her the vulnerability of Okinawa’s marine environment and reinforced the importance of action on climate change. Back in Ireland, she intends to continue her involvement with local Green Teams and encourage others to take practical environmental action.
Looking back, Annie says the programme has made her more aware of the world beyond Ireland, more resilient and more confident about travelling. She wants to share what she learned about cultural preservation, peace and the environment with people at home.
Sometimes that global awareness arrived through lectures and programme visits. Sometimes it came through conversations with Japanese students. And sometimes it was as simple as another participant sharing a playlist of songs she had never heard before.
Together, those moments taught Annie that becoming a global citizen begins with curiosity, and with recognising just how much there still is to learn.
