Student exchanges help build bridges of friendship between cultures
Published on Page 9 of the September 14, 2013 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Brooke Conragan
Haruki Motoshashi of Misuho demonstrates karate during the student’s trip to Morgan Hill.
Hip-hop dance, a traditional tea ceremony, the rhythm of Taiko drums, a karate demonstration, Japanese calligraphy, a piano solo and a group sing-along were all performed at a special barbecue party Aug. 25 to celebrate the Sister City relationship between Morgan Hill and Mizuho, Japan.
The event, held at the Morgan Hill Buddhist Community Center, was part of a summer cultural exchange program in which 10 middle-school students from Mizuho were hosted for 10 days by Morgan Hill families.
“This day was a celebration of the diversity of our community,” said Councilwoman Marilyn Librers who serves as a liaison between the city and the program. “Sister City student exchanges work to build bridges of friendships and understanding of different cultures.”
During their stay, the Japanese students toured the San Francisco Bay Area and the Monterey Bay. They visited Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, Google and Apple’s corporate campuses, Stanford University, Stanford Shopping Center, the Gilroy Outlets and the Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk.
They explored Morgan Hill locations such as the Centennial Recreation Center, the downtown Farmers Market, the local library, Chitactac-Adams County Park, and the Morgan Hill Historical Museum. The Japanese students attended local middle schools for half-day sessions to get to know how American classrooms function.
The barbecue event was the beginning of the end of the Morgan Hill-Mizuho Japanese Student Exchange program for 2013, said Murv Little, an organizer of the program. “Soon the students, chaperones, host families and leaders will return to their regular life, but it is our hope that these experiences will last a lifetime, and shape the future of all who participated,” he said.
Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate said the program teaches young people an appreciation for each other’s lives. “I love it that we get to learn so much about each other’s cultures, family life and traditions,” he said. “It is really special that our kids can gain friendships with kids from our Sister Cities, even in spite of language barriers. We treasure our relationship with Mizuho town.”
Brooke Conragan is a 9-year-old San Martin resident enrolled in an online charter school program. She likes photography and animals. Publisher Marty Cheek helped her write this story.
