Del Norte’s Japan Club and the Kamome Foundation sent a student delegation this past summer, rekindling the Sister-City program that was interrupted by the Pandemic, in 2019.
Students and community members fundraised for the 10 day trip to Rikunzentakata, Japan. The Delegation included DN Seniors, Stephanie Calte, Alyssa Ruiz-Cortez, Karina Cruz-Jimenez, and Joselyn Ferrer, along with two chaperones, Carol Zocchi (English teacher) and Diane Wiese (District Testing Coordinator).
The 16 hour flight from San Fransisco to Tokyo was followed by a bullet train to Sister City Rikuzentakata. Host families were organized and anxious to meet their hosts for the eight days, escort of the City and the Museum which housed the celebrated Kamome vessel. Other highlights of the trip included the Tsunami Memorial site with the Miracle Tree, the only surviving pine tree of the 70,000 pine groves lost in the 2011 tsunami. The quartet of students were adorned in traditional kimono attire to attend a formal welcoming tea ceremony.
The students addressed the Board of Supervisor last week and shared their experiences.
After visiting five well known Del Norte locations, students shared their English with their hosts and Japanese students conducted an English lesson and learned some Japanese.
Student Alyssa: Walmart
(buy Rumiano Cheese, pay Pacific Power bill and buy socks.)
Student Joselyn: Sea Quake
(order pizza, soda and tip on a bill).
Student Stephanie: Crescent Cinema
(buy tickets, order candy and ask for arcade change).
Chaperone Diane: Trees of Mystery
(buy a souvenir, a ticket and ask for a photo).
Student Karina: Del Norte High School
(practice teen slang like “fire,” “slay” and “mah boy.”
Recognition and appreciation to all who worked tireless and affording these goodwill ambassador students with memories of a lifetime.