Kwassui Gakuin, where Barbara Jo Easton teaches English and linguistics in the college and graduate division, has just begun its 119th academic year in April 1997.
The name "Kwassui" means Living Water and is symbolic of the Christian foundation of the school. Kwassui is related to the Council on Cooperative Mission, of which the United Church of Christ in Japan is a part. Every year graduating students pass the spirit of Kwassui on to the remaining students in a ceremony involving a traditional wooden water bucket decorated with colored ribbons. This is then explained to incoming students.
The Bible verse that the Chancellor selected for the 1997-98 school year is Psalm 27:l--"The Lord is my light and my salvation". Students are required to attend chapel at least weekly (daily in the junior-senior high school), and there are also Bible-related classes for them, both required and voluntary.
There are about 760 new students on the campus (College and Junior College) this year, but every year the number of young people in Japan is decreasing, so the future of school departments is at risk. Kwassui is currently trying to move in new directions, for example with a dietetics degree program.
In addition to school activities, Barbara participates in Nagasaki Church, which recently celebrated its 120th anniversary.
