New issue of SJ is out with some nice Chiba program coverage

I thought this article turned out pretty good, if I may say so myself.  Couple nice pictures too.  Pick it up at your local Japanese place of business, or else click on the link and take a gander at page two: September Issue of Southern Journal

Thanks to Mark Takayama at SJ for the opportunity.

Update: since I just heard SJ might not be up on the server after 6/12, I'll post it here too.  I'll see about adding in the photos too.


Houston Families, School Host Japanese Students

It seemed like the four Japanese middle-schoolers and their American host siblings could not be parted at the security check-point at Houston Intercontinental Airport.  Two sun-soaked weeks in Texas had bonded them to the point of tearful hugs.

“When the Japanese students left,” Hannah Reeves, 12, said, “everyone exchanged email addresses then hugged and cried and cried and hugged.  To think at the beginning we couldn’t figure out what to say to each other and by the end we couldn’t speak through our tears as our new Japanese friends were leaving.”

This year marked the 28th anniversary of the biannual two-week student exchange program.  Organized by the Houston-Chiba Sister City Committee and assisted this year by seasoned volunteers of JET alumni, the Chiba students and their chaperone, Ms. Miwa Watanabe, toured the breadth of Space City’s history with their new American families, doing just about everything under the sun.

For starters, in addition to visiting various museums, the Zoo, and the Galleria, they were able to try their hand at roping and witness blacksmithing up close at George Ranch.  Thanks to NASA and JAXA, they were allowed a exclusive peek over the shoulders of the crew at Mission Control and, led by Japanese astronaut “Nemo” Kanai, to take one of the last insider tours of the replica shuttle and other space vehicles, including Japan’s own Kibo module.  During the overnight trip to Kema and Galveston, when they were not gorging themselves at a Texas-sized buffet, they enjoyed some relief from the record heat in the pleasant Gulf waters.

 Mayor Annise Parker was so kind as to invite the wide-eyed bunch to chat in her office at City Hall.  That night, a welcome reception at the Consul General of Japan’s residence offered supporters from the Japan-America Society of Houston, Sister Cities of Houston, and Johnston Middle School teachers and administration an air of sophistication, dining on Chirashi Sushi, smoked salmon, and kasu-marinated and broiled black cod to name a few.  Afterward, the Chiba students performed the traditional O-bon dance, which celebrates its 500th anniversary this year.  Finally, the farewell reception was again graciously hosted this year by Mrs. LaVerl Daily to the tune of a country western band, two-step lessons, and BBQ pool party! 

For several days at Johnston Middle School, they accompanied their host brothers and sisters, Reilly Chorley, Hannah Reeves, Guy Nesin, and Ethan Yang, and alternate family brother Israel Morehead through a typical day of classes followed by Japanese and World Culture classes.

Here the tables were turned and the Japanese students could showcase their own culture to the on-looking young faces, astounded at being able to converse with and understand each other.  One does not get better motivational techniques to study a language than that.  Perhaps there were even some bright-eyed kids in those classes who will go on to apply for the program next year when it is our turn to send students to the open arms of our good friends in Chiba.