Previous Story
23 Japanese students here for 33rd year of exchange program
|
Posted on Aug 01 2011
Twenty-three students participating in the Sanpoen Youth Organization cultural exchange program spent their Monday frolicking in the waters of Mañagaha, soaking up the island’s sun and sand.
Executive secretary Vinycia Seman of the Saipan Mayor’s Office said the 18 female and five male students, age 11 to 17 years, arrived last week for the 33rd year of the exchange program between Japan and Saipan.
“The students will enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and barbecue with some local families and six staff from the Mayor’s Office,” she told Saipan Tribune in a phone interview while in Mañagaha.
Last Sunday, the students held the annual lantern ceremony at the beach behind Hopwood Jr. High School where they set afloat about 200 lanterns at 6:30pm to pray for all those who perished during the war.
Seman said the Japanese group was joined by some 30 public high school students and Mayor’s Office employees.
After the Mañagaha visit, Seman said the students were picked up by the 10 host families who will be in charge of them today and tomorrow.
The visiting students, Seman said, will then be returned to the care of the Mayor’s Office staff, who will pick them up on Wednesday at 6pm.
Seman added that they will host a send-off party for the Japanese students on that night as they are scheduled to return home the next day.
