Nine area high schools hosted 295 Japanese students, 20 teachers and two administrators from Kyoto University of Advanced Science High School in recent weeks, including Ceres, Central Valley, Hughson, Delhi, Beyer, Enochs, Gregori, Ripon and Pacheco.
Retired Ceres High School activity director Linda Cooper coordinated the trip just as she has since 2016.
“It’s a really incredible experience for everybody involved,” she said. “The program is amazing. All the schools want to do it again.”
Approximately 37 Japanese students stayed with Central Valley High School host families Oct. 13-18. They shadowed CV students and attended a school cultural assembly on Oct. 17.
“We haven’t done this since October of 2019,” noted Central Valley Activity Director Jonathan Merchant. “The whole world was shut down in March of 2020 due to COVID. Bringing it back was awesome. We hosted the most kids of any of the high schools. They got to see a different side of America. It was a really cool experience for our whole campus. The program is amazing.”
Merchant said that being a history enthusiast who likes to travel, he added that “any time you can show students there’s more to the world you live in is valuable. It helps you grow. It expands your mind. The world is bigger than Ceres and California.”
On Oct. 12-17 34 Japanese students stayed with host families from Ceres High School where they also shadowed students and were honored at a school assembly.
“It was an overwhelmingly positive experience,” said Ceres High Activity Director Amanda Casas. “It’s always neat when you get to see other peoples’ culture. It gives you a deeper understanding and appreciation of the diversity in our country and world.”
About 31 Japanese students stayed with host families from Delhi High School where Ceres School Board trustee Brian de la Porte is a P.E. teacher and coach. He and wife Kristin hosted two Japanese students in their home. The de la Portes treated them to a Denair versus Delhi football game on Oct. 13, took them to the Stoneridge Shopping Center in Pleasanton and attended the San Jose Earthquakes-C.D. Olimpia soccer match on Oct. 14.
“We tried to give them the American high-school experience,” noted de la Porte, who mentioned treating them to pizza and watching Monday night football and trips to In-N-Out Burger in Ceres and Turlock.
Cooper set up the tour of Modesto Junior College, Stanislaus State, Stewart & Jasper Orchards and Diamond Bar Arena.
She drove Mr. Sasai, Kyoto University’s principal, to each site.
“He got to meet all the superintendents,” said Cooper. “He was blown away by how our students accepted his students.”
Tears were shed and hugs were exchanged when Japanese students boarded buses and headed to the airport.
“By the end, there’s not a dry eye,” Cooper said. “They don’t want to get on the bus. The Japanese kids become very close to their host families. And the host families become very close to them.”
“The bonds the kids make so quickly is remarkable,” said Merchant. “There are tears when they leave.”
De la Porte noted that the experience was “awesome” and will definitely host when the Japanese students return in the future.
