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.

Houston-Chiba Sister City 30th Annual Student Exchange Trip

[It's true I was somewhat slack in posting something when the four Houston middle school kids went to Chiba this summer.  For one thing, I was waiting to receive some good pictures before doing a write-up.  Time passed.  Oh, well.  So, I'm writing this from the future (October '12); if I get some pics, I'll add them later.  Or my future self will.]


You heard right.  This year is the 30th Anniversary since the exchange started back in 1983.  I know the math might seem weird.  'Cause I was born in '82 and I'm thirty now...  Maybe they had two exchanges at once or somebody jumped the gun.

Incidentally, this year also makes the 40th Anniversary of the sister city relationship.  No fuzzy math there - it started in 1972.  So, big news, yeah!  Unfortunately, no, there won't really be any headline celebrations that I know of due some various factors that I can't really talk about that much, other than the fact that Japanese in Houston tend to be way too political about every little thing and party poopers in general.

By the way, it's also the 100th Anniversary since the Japanese donated the cherry blossom trees (sakura) to Washington, D.C.  Houston will be celebrating that Sakura Gifting on October 19th in the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park with Mayor Parker and other official folk.  Don't think I'm invited to that one, so I guess that excuses me from reporting on it.

From what I read of the students reports, they had a great time with their host families.  They got to meet Mayor Kumagai of Chiba, the Board of Education, went on a tour of Minami Boso, and on their overnight trip visited the coastal resort of Shirahama.  Since I was chaperone two years ago, I know firsthand how well-prepared the schedule is.  Chiba City International Association (CCIA) does a superb job.

Izumiya Junior High School website's itinerary with the Houston kids.

At school they were offered various culture activities like karate, calligraphy lessons, koto, and judo.  A far cry from my middle school days.  I didn't learn an instrument growing up; the only cultural activities I had to choose from were electives like Newspaper Club and Auto Shop class.

I'll leave you with the words of one of our exchange students, "I loved Japan - no one word could ever describe how much I had fun and learned."

With last year's Japanese exchange students in Asakusa

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.

Chiba student exchange article link from my friend Miyuki (P.S.- She's awesome)

She writes a guest blog every now and again, and each time crafts her story with such skill and heart and poignancy you might very well take it for granted that she's a native speaker (hint: Miyuki isn't a name from around these parts).  I'll have to get some tips on writing from her one of these days.

She's also an old hand when it comes to bringing her students over for exchanges so those of us at the Houston-Chiba Sister City Committee were fortunate and grateful to have her help in volunteering.  Not to mention, she brought me a couple of rad Japanese shirts when she came.

Her experience helping chaperone our Chiba kids

Chiba, Houston kids in the news, or, "Sweet, they wrote a Chiba article - now I don't have to"

Just kidding.  I'll probably post one up shortly or for the next issue of SJ.  In the meantime, enjoy: Article on the consulate's first-rate welcome reception.   (Yes, I wore a tie).

Though there was plenty of mingling for the adults, the kids seemed to really enjoy it as well, stuffing themselves on the catered sushi and shrimp.  I'd provide a photo, but you'll just have to wait for my write-up.

As a side note, besides wine, the default drink being served was Perrier water.  That's right, all bubbly and carbonated.  So you know it was a swanky party.

("And now a message from our sponsors...") 千葉市からの中学生の訪問について

こんにちは。

既に御存知の方もいらっしゃるかと思いますが、8月15日～26日の日程で、ヒューストンの姉妹都市、千葉市の中学生が4名ヒューストンに来ます。 その間のボランティアを募集しているそうです。1日でも、また複数日でも、構いません。

もし、御都合がついて、また御興味のあるかたがいらっしゃいましたら、どうぞお知らせ下さい。スケジュールの詳細は、追ってお知らせいたします。

どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。

山田真由美

Yeah, well, you can just e-mail me (good ol' Captain Morgan), regular address. In English or Japanese is okay.

Heads-up on the Houston-Chiba exchange program

ね、ね、Hey Everyone,

The Houston-Chiba Sister City Committee (HCSCC) of the Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) is currently seeking capable volunteers for the annual student exchange/host family program. Our program alternates sending/hosting every other year. Last year we sent four middle-schoolers with chaperone (me) to Chiba. Take it from me, it was pretty awesome.

This year our host families will be welcoming four Japanese students and their chaperone at Johnston Middle School near Meyerland from August 14th-27th. Together we'll be visiting cultural sights around Houston (museums, NASA, etc.), including Kema and Galveston for an overnight trip with heaping doses of Southern hospitality. Volunteer-chaperoning would mainly include helping supervise or driving the students for whatever days one might be free.

Overall, committee member responsibilities include some or several of the following: attending itinerary planning meetings, helping to interview and select host families (April-May), coordinating information with other members and host families, chaperoning and assisting with transportation of students during their two week stay (late August). Desired applicants would have a flexible daytime schedule, be good with kids, sociable with other cultures, and dependable.

For any questions/comments please contact the following:

dmorgan@primum-mobile.net
houston.chiba@yahoo.com

Together for Japan,
Daniel Morgan
HCSCC


This blog wasn't around in 2010 to talk about previous exchanges, but maybe I could back-date some of this?

-SJ's write-up on last year's epic of a trip:
Cultural exchange students spend two weeks in Japan

-The good people over at AIFS really took care of us:
Asumigaoka International Friendship Society's blog

-From our counterparts in Chiba (Chiba City International Association)
who basically arrange most everything:
Students Meeting with the Mayor of Chiba

-Reflections from 2008's trip:
Houston student raves about her trip