The Cupertino Courier
News
Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Even with a bit of a language barrier, Jackie Breuer (right) excitedly tells Shiori Hashimoto about their schedule for the day at Lawson Middle School in Cupertino. Shiori is one of several exchange students from Cupertino's sister city, Toyokawa, Japan.
Tears flow freely as students part
By ERIN HUSSEY
In 1983, a delegation from Toyokawa, Japan, visited the city of Cupertino and planted 200 cherry trees in Memorial Park. Just as the cherry trees have grown, the bond between the cities has also flourished. Over the past week, Cupertino welcomed several sister-city middle school students and chaperones into their hearts for the 28th time.
"You make them part of your home," said Virgil Klein, vice president of the Sister City Committee and host for more than 20 years.
"The friendships you get from them can be lifelong, and I think ours is lifelong," added his wife Trish, who is the committee's historian.
The 16 students, three chaperones and two translators from Toyokawa arrived in Cupertino on Sept. 21. Each student stayed with a host family and had the opportunity to attend two days of school at Lawson Middle School in Cupertino.
"Aside from being introduced and talking about the program, they went about seeing what a normal day would have been like in a classroom," said eighth-grade language arts teacher Kit Bragg.
"They got to see how the students interact with their teacher and how the teacher interacts with the students and if that is similar or dissimilar to maybe their experience in their home city."
Bragg also noted even though the language barrier was apparent, the students were still able to connect through their interests in popular culture.
"So much of culture these days is worldwide," he said.
"There is an international language for music and fashion and art, and so I think they can relate on those levels because they are kind of into the same things and the same music, even though they are from Japan or from America."
While the students were meeting new friends, conversing about music and trying a variety of American food, the Toyokawa chaperones had a chance to learn more about how the Cupertino Elementary School District worked.
"The biggest difference between our schools is maybe that the top of our schools is the city," said Kenji Shiroki, who works at the Toyokawa City Hall. Unlike a school district, the city is in charge of managing all 26 Toyokawa schools.
"After meeting all the people from the district, I know how much effort it takes to keep this all up," Fujiko Suzumura, vice principal and teacher at Sanzougo Elementary school, said. "I have learned a lot from how the teachers teach here and the system of the school district, and I will use that experience when I go back and teach in Japan."
While all three chaperones plan to stay in touch with their host families and build friendships, the Kleins have already bonded with a number of sister-city visitors.
"One brought us a key to his house and said, 'Anytime you want to come and stay, my house is your house,'" Virgil Klein said.
As the Toyokawa students bid farewell, they handed out small origami envelopes. Folded inside were Japanese stamps, a 5-yen coin and a brief message. "This is a 5-yen coin," one note began, written by Junya Endoh. "We call it Go-en. Go-en have another meaning, which is good relationship or a chance. So many Japanese offer this coin when they go to temple or shrine. I believe today is a beginning of happiness for both of us."
The sister-city delegates left for Toyokawa Sept. 27 from Cupertino City Hall.
To learn more about the sister-city program, call 408.257.7424.
