International Relationships lecture

For our October English Lecture, we held a discussion with three panelists, Steve Paton (Australia), Paula Goto (New Zealand), and Pierre Bruchet (France). The topic was “International Relationships”, and the panelists gave interesting, humorous, and heartfelt answers to some of the issues they have faced in having a partner from another culture. The questions for the panel all came from the students, and included:

• How did you become acquainted with your partner?
• Had you wanted an international partner even before you got together?
• What do you think is the best thing about having a Japanese partner?
• How did (will) you propose to your partner?
• How did you decide which country to live in?
• What did you do to make a positive start to your relationship?
• Which language do you use in the house?
• What language do you speak when you quarrel with each other?
• How did you each persuade your parents to accept an international marriage?
• Would you marry your partner even if your parents objected to it?
• How did / would you decide your children’s names?
• What do you think about the Japanese education system for your children?
• Have you ever been confused about the differences in your cultures?
• Which of you manage the family money?
• Do you like your partner’s cooking?(Does your partner like your cooking)?
• Do you have some mismatches when there are cultural events (such as Christmas, New Years, etc…)?
• What do you do to make an international relationship work better?
• Will you live in Japan forever?
• What do you think are the good points of having a non-Japanese boyfriend?

Steve Paton talking with Malcolm Swanson’s zemi

Paula Goto comparing phone cases

Some of the audience with the panelists