Translation of the article on the youth exchange in the City Bulletin, issue 9/2006, page 10 Youth exchange delegation visited Messkirch During the ten days from July 3 to 12, 2006, the first Kahoku youth exchange delegation visited our sister city of Messkirch in Germany. The group that consisted of 15 Kahoku junior high school students home stayed, got to know their host families and students of Messkirch, and deepened the bond of friendship through various exchange activities. Kahokudai Junior High School, Grade 3 Naoya Higashimoto Through international exchange I realized how important communication is. Even if your English isn't very good it is very important to communicate one's thoughts to the other person. Kahokudai Junior High School, Grade 3 Junpei Mikai During the exchange I learned something really precious: I learned that Germany is a great country. I think this will be of use to me in my future life. I would like to convey this experience to others, and to put it to good use in my life. Kahokudai Junior High School, Grade 3 Toshiki Tamaru Although I wasn't able to communicate coherently with words, I am happy I could communicate with others by gestures. I was a little nervous, so I am really happy that all the Germans welcomed me with kindness. I would like to tell others about this experience. Kahokudai Junior High School, Grade 3 Daiki Kasashima I learned about the differences between German and Japanese culture the hard way and I think that by assiduously struggling for communication we actually bonded. I hope the city partnership will help to promote respect and appreciation for each other's countries. Kahokudai Junior High School, Grade 3 Tomomi Nakayama I like the Germans who repeated everything many times in a friendly manner when I didn't understand. I also like the fact that they show their feelings, e.g. if they are happy or sad. I realized how important it is to show how you feel. Takamatsu Junior High School, Grade 3 Mika Sakurai My initial fear was quickly erased by the friendliness and openness of the host family. Once again I realized the importance of openness, activeness and of course language ability in international exchange. Takamatsu Junior High School, Grade 3 Kyoka Okada Germany is a beautiful country and the host family was very nice. I would like to use this experience to trust my own abilities more and become more open in the future. Takamatsu Junior High School, Grade 2 Kosuke Okino I had the chance to experience how German people live. Next year I would like to cooperate so the Germans will take home good memories of Kahoku. Takamatsu Junior High School, Grade 2 Shingo Terashita I was happy that I could communicate with my host family and that I could tell them about my favorite sport, sumo, and also sumo wrestle with them. If I get the chance I would definitely like to go again. Takamatsu Junior High School, Grade 2 Yu Matsumoto I learned it is important to articulate one's thoughts and wishes when dealing with international exchange. When the German students come to Kahoku next year, I will help them have a good time. Unoke Junior High School, Grade 2 Natsumi Kondo To me, the physical education at school left a deep impression. I realized that in sports, once you know the rules nationality, language or different culture doesn't play a role. It was a good opportunity for me to grow. Unoke Junior High School, Grade 2 Mio Waizumi The environment of Messkirch is very beautiful, and I am especially happy that the people were so friendly. Furthermore, I was deeply moved by knowing how interested in history people are over there. I was also happy that the exchange gave us the opportunity to make friends with students from other junior high schools in the city. Unoke Junior High School, Grade 2 Shuhei Ura Although I couldn't talk to the Germans about basketball as I planned, I had many interesting and funny conversations with many people so I think I achieved the objective of the exchange. I would like to go there again with the same members. Unoke Junior High School, Grade 2 Kengo Fujisawa It was really very nice, as I could exchange not only with my host family, but also with other host families and other students in the group. When saying goodbye I was very sad and thought that I would like to stay longer. Unoke Junior High School, Grade 1 Anna Sawada In the future, I would like to improve my English, study in Germany and go to Messkirch again. Moreover, I really like the German education system, because it respects the personality of the students. After the visit in Messkirch Delegation leader Takio Yamamoto and principal at Takamatsu Junior High School Takio Yamamoto The youth exchange delegation arrived in Messkirch later than 11 p.m. local time after a long transfer of about 24 hours since their departure from Kahoku. Although it was late at night, the host families and other citizens of Messkirch gave us a warm welcome. Aside from one night in a hotel, the 15 students experienced the life in ordinary German families for seven days and nights. Even the students who had shown confusion in the beginning quickly opened up to their host families and cleared the home stay, their greatest fear of the visit. The students could, through joint lessons at school, a walk though the city, visits to a museum and a monastery in the surrounding area, and on top of this through the daily life at their host families, get to know not only the German way of life and youths of the same age, but also the nature, history and culture of Germany. Moreover, coming into contact with the warm-heartedness and spiritual richness of the Germans over activities and the interaction was very new, impressive and valuable. Not only for the students, but also for us chaperones, this has become a treasure for life. In closing, I would like to express my hope that this precious exchange that has just begun for the city of Kahoku, will further deepen.