Modesto high school students can visit and host Japanese students. What they’ll learn
Growing up in Modesto, Mimi Whang never gave much thought to the McHenry Mansion, but seeing Japanese exchange students interested in it made her appreciate it more.
Whang, who is half Japanese, had wanted to gain a deeper connection to her cultural roots and language given Modesto’s small Japanese population.
Last year, she participated in a student exchange program in Kurume, Japan – one of Modesto’s Sister Cities – gaining a fresh perspective on Japanese culture distinct from her own Japanese American upbringing.
“I think it’s a really great experience to take yourself out of your comfort zone and live in someone else’s shoes,” Whang, a senior at Gregori High School, said.
Since 1992, students from Modesto have been visiting the sister city of Kurume, Japan, and hosting Kurume students in return.
The exchange is organized by the Kurume Bureau of Tourism and Modesto Sister Cities International (MSCI). It is a home-stay program, as students’ families host one another in their homes. The program includes cultural activities, friendship building and visits to historical landmarks.
Modesto has other sister cities, including Laval, France, which is another exchange program in which students can participate. There have not been any exchange programs established with Modesto’s other sister cities in Canada, Ukraine and Mexico.
Research shows that exchange students reported higher GPAs than non-exchange students enrolled at the same institution. Those who participated in an exchange program also were more likely to graduate than their non-exchange peers.
Applications for the Kurume and Laval exchange program this summer are open to high school students and are due May 1. Participants are responsible for covering plane tickets and health insurance expenses, and are advised to bring spending money.
About 10 students will travel to Kurume to stay from July 18-30, followed by hosting Japanese students in Modesto from Aug. 9-20.
What Modesto students can expect in Japan
When students arrive in Kurume, a city of more than 300,000 people, they start by learning basic Japanese. During the 12-day trip, the students attend a tea ceremony, meet the mayor of Kurume and speak with a U.S. diplomat, said Minh Beebout, chair member of the MSCI Kurume committee.
“They made friendships that will continue,” Beebout said.
Angelica Apa, a senior at Gregori High School, participated in the program last summer. She said Kurume reminded her a bit of Modesto because both share a countryside landscape.
Mimi’s cousin, Ann Whang, who also went on the program, said they visited many shrines in Japan and ate a lot of good food.
She said language wasn’t much of a barrier because many of the Japanese students were proficient in English. Otherwise, they relied on gestures and Google Translate to communicate with their host families.
Japanese students in Modesto
During their visit to Modesto, Japanese students typically explore various attractions, including farmers markets, downtown Modesto, the State Theatre and agricultural operations. They also spend a day in San Francisco.
“Everything that seems so mundane over here was so brand new to them,” said Catherine Carson, a senior at Gregori High School, who participated in the program last year.
Ann Whang noticed that the Japanese students were particularly excited about going to a Save Mart supermarket and buying American toothpaste, which they said was superior for teeth whitening.
“Being able to stay with the Japanese family and have them stay with you really helps you appreciate the place that you grew up in and see everything that’s really nice about where you grew up,” she said.
Expanding cultural perspectives
Apa said she still keeps in touch with her host family through social media. Recently, on her host student’s birthday, she sent a gift.
Mimi Whang said she believes it’s important for young people to experience other cultures and explore new places. She plans to study abroad in college and revisit Japan.
“I think it’s a really great experience to take yourself out of your comfort zone and live in someone else’s shoes,” Whang said.
To learn more about Modesto Sister Cities International’s youth exchange program, go to www.modestosistercities.com/youth-exchange.aspx.
