YCE (Youth Camp Exchange)

　　YCE is one of the activities of the International Lions Club, which aims to initiate young people to experience another country's culture. They stay in an unfamiliar country and live communally with foreign people. Then, consequently, they will learn to respect the difference between each other. My youngest daughter was dispatched to the Netherlands two years ago by the YCE program, and I felt her personal growth when she came back.
　　I'm not sure about the details, but the YCE headquarters of the International Lions Club sounded the headquarters of Shikoku out in November about the possibility of welcoming two high school students from Malaysia. FYI, Shikoku is the fourth biggest island of Japan, and its population is 4,14 million. After consideration, Matsuyama Chuo and Matsuyama Minami Lions Club were set as the host club for them. Two students were supposed to spend two weeks in Kyushu and then move to Ehime Prefecture in Shikoku and stay there for two weeks. Thus, a Malaysian high schoolgirl was to stay in my house for a week. My wife was worried about food, wondering if she was a Muslim or not. According to her short profile from the headquarters, she was Catholic. We were all relieved at the news.
　　They flew into Matsuyama City on Dec. 13th and their welcome party was held on the next day. Pictures show their self-introduction and the funny performance of Mochitsuki, rice-cake pounding. I hope their stay in Japan will be a great experience for them.

(Vocabulary)
sound sb/sth ↔ out ＜人・組織など＞の考えを探る［聞き出す］, に打診する, ＜考えなど＞を探る
sound sb ↔ out about/on sth ＜…＞について＜人・組織など＞の考えを探る［聞き出す］

YCE (Japanese　日本語のサイト)
http://www.lionsclubs.org/JA/our-work/youth-programs/youth-camp-and-exchange/