9 students fly to Japan for weeklong exchange program

 Students participating in the cultural exchange program between the Saipan Mayor’s Office and the International Youth Association of Japan KSKK are looking forward to varied experiences upon their arrival in Japan.

The nine students and two adult chaperones left for Japan on a morning flight yesterday.

Tasi Long, the 8-year-old lone Tinian resident among the students, said this trip would be his first time to travel to Japan without his family.

“I’m excited to see Disneyland and the culture of the Japanese,” said Long who is now in third grade at the Grace Christian Academy.

Nicole Meyers, a sixth grader at Garapan Elementary School, said she looks forward to eating her favorite Japanese food: sushi and soba.

“I want to learn about the culture and just have fun,” said Meyers, 11.

Mount Carmel school student Kiki Teregeyo, who turns 12 on Oct. 26, said she has been to Narita several times but only for transiting.

“I’ll practice talking in Japanese and see how far I’ve been,” said Teregeyo who has had two years of private lessons on the language.

Teregeyo added that she is thrilled to go sightseeing, “shopping,” and to “wake up everybody.”

Emiri Iwai, an MCS eighth grader, said she has been to different parts of Japan such as Yokohama and Osaka with her family “more than five times.”

“I want to learn about the culture, learn new things and travel with someone other than family,” said the 11-year-old Iwai.

Zachary Taitano, 12, said it’s his first time to set foot in Japan. “I’m excited to learn about Japan and their language,” said the eighth grader at MCS, adding that he plans to buy souvenirs for his family before coming home.

Phalai Frink, a freshman at Saipan International School, said she’s been to Japan several times “with a big group of people,” mostly relatives.

“I’m going for the food,” said Frink, 14. Her favorite is sushi ramen. Frink added that she plans to brush up on her Japanese during the trip.

Vinycia Seman, the mayor’s executive secretary who will accompany the students, is also excited about the trip, mainly because of the different yet wonderful personalities of the students. “I will treat them all as my own children and will ensure their safety at all times,” she said.

The group will visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatories, Ueno Zoo, Tokyo Disneyland, and the Shinjuku shopping district and will be staying with host families in Chiba, Ibaraki, and Tokyo cities from Oct. 8 to 10.

According to Seman, the CNMI students will wear lava lava and perform for their Japanese counterparts the song Saipan by KC Deleon Guerrero and a dance called Deep Blue Sea by Alex Sablan. She said Tinian’s Long will also do a posterboard presentation about his island.

Seman said she’s especially excited for those students who “have never step foot on a plane and to experience a whole different culture outside of Saipan.”

“I hope the kids will leave Japan with a deeper appreciation of the Japanese people and their culture,” said Seman. “In the meantime, let’s also never forget those affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami that took place in March and continue to pray for all of them.”

The group will fly back to the CNMI on Oct. 12.