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9 Japanese students enjoy island visit despite rain
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Posted on Aug 25 2011
Nine students from the Itoda City student exchange program are enjoying their stay on island amid sporadic rains the past few days.
Executive secretary Vinycia Seman of the Saipan Mayor’s Office said yesterday that the students, ages 11 to 13, arrived with three chaperones on Sunday night from Fukuoka, Japan.
“Despite the rain, they’re still having a good time doing sightseeing and meeting a lot of local students,” she told Saipan Tribune.
Seman said Mayor Donald Flores welcomed the students on Monday morning and were presented with shell leis from the Marianas Visitors Authority.
The students visited historical sites and other interesting places such as Saipan Zoo and the Mount Carmel Cathedral. The students also met with their counterparts from the Grace Christian Academy.
While the students were not able to go to Managaha due to the bad weather, Seman said they went to see Paupau Beach where Mayor’s Office staffer Ton Reyes demonstrated how to use a talaya, a circular fishing net.
Yesterday, Seman said, the students visited MVA where they were presented with tokens.
Itoda City Mayor’s Office staffer Mitsutoshi Ozaki, one of the chaperones, will also present gifts to local students he assisted during the 20th Asia Pacific Children Convention in Fukuoka three years ago.
According to Seman, the Japanese students prepared for their trip by studying for three months several English and Chamorro phrases that they used during their visit.
Seman said the students are staying with their host families for the duration of the program. Host families include herself and Jeff Boyer, Ana Salas, Richard and Lorraine Seman, Fred and Tina Boyer, and Ieki and Valencia Tasi.
“We hope we continue to get more support from the community for this cultural exchange program,” added Seman.
The students will have a send-off party on Saturday before they return home the next day.
