Update on Houston-Chiba exchange program, among others

Though I passed on my involvement with the Houston-Chiba Sister City Committee (with Sister Cities of Houston) and the board of Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) at the close of 2012, last year's chaperone, Japanese teacher Mrs. Fang Ji of Johnston Middle School, did a couple write-ups about the JMS students two-week trip.  Since the HISD link might expire, I'll take the liberty of reproducing the text as well.  I never really got any pictures from last year's trip, or else I would share some.

Texas Foreign Language Association Journal, Spring 2013

HISD Community News:

Johnston MS student ambassadors receive commendations from city

On Dec. 6, four students from Johnston Middle School received commendations as from the City of Houston for their service to the Bayou City.
Isabel MacDonough, Ariel Miranda, Hannah Reeves, and Ethan Yang, who are learning Japanese, served as student ambassadors to our sister city in Chiba, Japan, a city northeast of Tokyo. They spent two weeks there in June 2012 with host families, touring the schools, as well as the sites of Chiba City and Tokyo.
They were chaperoned by their Japanese language teacher at Johnston, Fang Ji.
Johnston MS has participated in this exchange program for five years and has offered Japanese language classes for more than 15 years. It also hosts four middle-school students from Chiba every other summer.
The students are pictured with Japan America Society of Houston President Gary Nakamura (far left), City Council member Jack Christie (center, who appeared on the mayor’s behalf), and Johnston alumnus and exchange program committee member Daniel Morgan (far right), who served as a chaperone during the summer of 2010.



Not exactly news since it was last December, but recently I was informed that Johnston Middle School has decided to close down their Japanese/Chinese program.  Bummer.  Well, it was a good run.  I worked with the SCH/JASH/HCSCC program from 2009-12.  I look forward to the new ideas and fresh spirit that the next committee chair brings to the program with the next lucky Houston middle school. 

Oh, by the way, my friend Miyuki Kobayashi is bringing in not one, but two, batches of high school and college students from Tokyo this year with her own JAMSRY program.  Just in time for the rodeo.  Can't wait to meet their smiling faces.  It's so rewarding to get to share the joy of hospitality with new friends.