TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A “Farewell Ceremony” for visiting nursing students from Japan’s Chiba University will be held Thursday, March 10, at 6:30 p.m. in The University of Alabama Museum of Natural History in Smith Hall.

Visiting Japanese nursing students will be dressed in traditional attire and sing to their hosts in what promises to be a moving ceremony.

The UA Capstone College of Nursing along with the UA English Language Institute hosted the exchange program Feb. 27-March 11 for 17 Chiba University nursing students and their adviser.

The students spent two weeks with Capstone College of Nursing students in the classroom and in clinical settings. They were introduced to the American culture and health care system along with taking courses at UA’s English Language Institute. Students also spent time with an American host family.

Other visiting groups include a group of 12 students from Kansai Gaidai University in Japan who arrived on Feb. 7 and will depart on March 13. The students studied intensive English at the ELI. They lived in UA dormitories with American roommates. This group will have a farewell dinner at the University Club on Thursday, March 10.

Another group of 20 students from Chiba University arrived on Feb. 20 and will depart on March 19. They are studying intensive English at the ELI and will participate in cultural activities. They have traveled to New Orleans during their visit, and will travel to Atlanta March 11-13. The farewell ceremony for this group will be held on Thursday, March 17, at the Belk Activity Center in Bowers Park.