
Translation of the article on the youth exchange in the City Bulletin, issue 11/2008, page 2



Forever a Heart-to-Heart-Exchange

Kahoku City Student Exchange Delegation visits Messkirch



During the eleven days from September 14 to 24, 2008, a student exchange delegation and an adult exchange delegation visited the German sister city of Messkirch. The group was composed of 15 students from the three junior high schools in town, four custodians and four participants in the adult exchange program. Through homestay, contact with the members of their host families and the students of Messkirch and through various exchange activities, they deepened the bond of friendship.



Kahokudai Junior High School, Grade 9 Yayoi Ishimoto At the introduction with the host families I was very nervous and tense, but gradually loosened up. The host family took me to various places and I was able to experience things that I couldn't experience in Japan and to make many memories. Kahokudai Junior High School, Grade 9 Yuri Matsumoto At first I was very fearful, but I was only nervous the first day. I realized quickly that although the country is different, the people are no different from us. I learned a lot from getting to know a different culture and through the mutual sharing of our cultures. It broadened my perspective and became the most valuable memory of my life. Unoke Junior High School, Grade 9 Nozomi Kamei Having dinner with the host family relieved my fear about my inadequate language skills. In our free time on Saturday and Sunday we went shopping and to the natural science museum. I saw and heard many things and I had the feeling that we were able to become a real family. Kahokudai Junior High School, Grade 9 Yukiho Omote The schooling systems of Japan and Germany are totally different, and I found the liberal stance enviable. In the hay hotel we taught Japanese origami and songs, learned German songs and were able to deepen exchanges. The sister city visit became an irreplaceable memory for me. Kahokudai Junior High School, Grade 9 Minori Toratani I was anxious and nervous to leave my family and go abroad, but the host family seemed very nice so I was relieved. By the time I did the homestay I wasn't able to make my thoughts clear to people, but through this exchange I learned about the importance of communicating one's thoughts. Takamatsu Junior High School, Grade 9 Chie Okino I'm glad my first exposure overseas where I could interact with foreigners was Messkirch. During free time with the host family we went shopping and had a barbecue, which was nice. The visit to Messkirch became a memory that will last a lifetime. Takamatsu Junior High School, Grade 9 Moe Takenaka It was trying because we didn't understand each others' languages. I should have learned more English. Everybody in the host family was kind and I felt like a part of the family. I will never forget how delicious it was when on the last day we made rice omelettes and invited friends over to eat. Kahokudai Junior High School, Grade 9 Yuki Nishizawa It was nice to detect cultural differences and to be able to eat many dishes that I haven't eaten before in Japan. It was difficult to communicate with the host family, and I realized that not only gestures, but language skills and activeness are also important. Takamatsu Junior High School, Grade 8 Shiori Matsumoto I felt very anxious about the homestay, but when I introduced myself to the host family in German and was understood, I felt a little better. We visited schools and were able to interact nicely with many people, and on the last day I didn't want to go home anymore. Takamatsu Junior High School, Grade 9 Ayaka Mori Everybody in the host family was kind, and it was very nice of them to make me a lunchbox and give me a joyride on a motorbike. Saying goodbye was tough, we all hugged and wept bitterly. By visiting Messkirch I was able to learn many things. Takamatsu Junior High School, Grade 9 Yuko Tsurumi The host family gave me a warm welcome which immediately took away my anxiety. I got to know about the cultural differences and the importance of English, and I felt like I wanted to learn English properly. I would like to spread the word about the good sides of Messkirch and go again if I get the chance. Takamatsu Junior High School, Grade 9 Shinya Higashimoto Having experienced everyday life in Germany, I realized that it was different from Japan. There was a language barrier, but I was really happy to be able to deepen my acquaintance and to create a new bond between Japan and Germany. For me it became a memory that will last a lifetime. Unoke Junior High School, Grade 9 Ikuko Okamoto I was happy to meet the people who had homestayed in our house last year again. I was envious that the schools in Messkirch have an educational system that highly esteems "individuality." In the future I would like to keep in touch with the people of Messkirch and to engage actively in international exchange. Takamatsu Junior High School, Grade 9 Yuka Korin I was anxious about being able to communicate with the host family in a meaningful way, but they understood English better than I expected and treated me kindly, so I could open up right away. The Germans were all very friendly and I didn't feel the language barrier at all. Kahokudai Junior High School, Grade 9 Mayumi Shinzo I would like to make good use of the things that I learned in Germany, and I would like to spread the word to people in Japan. I thought that in international exchange, the will to communicate is important. Saying goodbye to the host family that had treated me like a real member of the family was sad.



Having completed the stay in Messkirch

Head of Delegation and Kahokudai Junior High School teacher Hitomi Tsuda After a long time traveling we eventually reached Messkirch. In the afternoon of the day we arrived in Messkirch we visited an old castle site, and in the evening we finally met with the <host families in Realschule school. The host families welcomed us with a warm smile, but due to anxiety there were also expressions of tension to be seen on the faces of some of the children of Kahoku. However, faster than I thought, the children opened up, and the different languages didn’t seem to cause a big hindrance. The morning of the day we left Messkirch, the children of both towns wept bitterly and hugged each other, not wanting to let go for a long time. That scene moved even me to tears. The stay was only one week, but for the children this exchange surely became an invaluable treasure. German culture, history, environment, educational system, differences in lifestyle, there were many things we acquired, and not only for the children, but also for us custodians this stay became a lifelong treasure. Particularly the environment and education was memorable for me. The fact that Germany is a leading nation when it comes to environment is widely known, but when actually going to Germany I was suprised that there were almost no traffic lights. The wasting of gasoline or over emission of carbon dioxide by cars due to unnecessary waits at stoplights doesn’t happen. I was extremely impressed that road construction is being carried out under sufficient consideration of ecological aspects. Moreover, the beautiful harmonious face of the streets that takes advantage of old houses was impressive. As it offers comfort to all the people living there, each individual living there makes an effort, this also shows consideration for the environment and it must also be connected to the German way of life and education. The teachers gently indicate the direction to the students, then the students think on their own, and study on their own responsibility, that’s the German way of education. In today’s Japan, aren’t students shepherded too much and haven’t students unlearned how to think and act on their own? That’s what I thought when listening to the principal of Gymnasium school speak. I will never forget the warmth of the people I met in Germany. I am thankful to have had this opportunity and I sincerely hope that even more people from Messkirch and Kahoku will have the chance to do exchange in the future.