Haddonfield students are getting ready to say “Sayonara” to America and say “Konnichiwa” to Japan.
Haddonfield Public Schools students are preparing to take the trip to Japan where they will experience the culture of the country while also bringing a part of their American culture to the host families there. The students have been taking classes in preparation for their travel.
“Hopefully I’ll be better at my Japanese, meet new people and get closer to the people in this classroom,” participant Ryo Tsuda said.
The Haddonfield Japan Exchange was formed in 2006 and has since been hosting a program that allows Haddonfield students to go to Japan every other year, while students from Kasukabe, Japan, visit Haddonfield during the other years.
The students are interested in traveling, as it is an experience people don’t often get. Many heard about the HJE through a positive experience from a friend or family member.
They each had to apply with an essay, saying why they wanted to go. Just about every person who applied was accepted, according to student Myya Fasolo. This year, there are 22 students going to Japan.
Fasolo said she is looking forward to experiencing the different languages, food and culture. Tsuda, who has family in Japan, was really interested in going back to his roots. He said he is excited to meet new people and figure out the formalities and nuances he doesn’t know.
“I’m excited to meet my host family and experience their culture,” Leah Nepa said.
All of the students hope to bring a part of their culture to Japan while they are there, as well as learn about the Japanese culture.
“I’d like to bring my American side of who I am to the table,” Tsuda said.
During the spring and summer, students have been taking classes to learn about the culture of Japan, from customs to words and phrases to expectations. The Sun went to the HJE’s ninth class, where students learned to use chopsticks, heard from HMHS graduate and former HJE participant Cassidy Hillburn, practiced some phrases and learned what their schedule would be for the trip.
The class started with Hillburn talking about her experience going to Japan as well as answering questions students might have. She said her favorite parts were spending time with the host family and getting close with all of the students who travelled to Japan. Students asked questions about translation problems, safety and money and were put at ease as she answered all of them positively.
“In general, if anything, the language gap is something to look forward to rather than be afraid of. You might have to play charades, but it is all part of the fun and getting comfortable … Laugh a lot and don’t beat yourself up,” Hillburn said.
The class then continued with a lesson on chopsticks. Bill Brown, director of HJE, said different numbers in Japanese and students were to move that number of goldfish crackers from one cup to another. Most students seemed to have no trouble, though other guests Kaori and Wynn Myers were there to help. Kaori is from Japan, while Wynn is an alumnus of HMHS.
The students then practiced phrases such as greetings and farewells for different people and different times of day, thanking and apologizing, and asking for different things that are quite common. They also learned to eat with chopsticks, gift giving and telling time.
Students also received their schedules. They will travel to Kasukabe High School the first day for a welcoming ceremony and then spend the next day resting with their host family. Then starts the scheduled adventures with lessons at the school, a stop at the Subaru factory and Oya Museum, bus tours in Tokyo, a visit to Kamakura, an amusement park and viewing Mt. Fuji. The weekends and final day are reserved for the host families and then a sayonara party.
At the next class, students will learn the names of their host families as well as get their contact information, so they can interact with their host family before heading over.
To learn more about the HJE or to donate, as more donations are needed, go to www.hjex.org.
