Sister Cities program marks 11th year
Orient and Occident collided earlier this month as a delegation of Japanese students visited their Warren County counterparts as part of the Sister Cities cultural exchange program.
This summer marked the 11th such exchange of the Sister Cities program, which was organized in 1992 to promote international friendship, as well as the exchange of ideas and cultures, between the communities of McMinnville-Warren County and Mikawa-muri and Mikawa-machi, Japan.
While here, the 16 Japanese students were paired with local students and their families and stayed at local homes. These “homestays” helped give the visiting students a more accurate picture of everyday life in the United States, as host families were asked to include the students in their weekly activities, such as grocery shopping and attending ball games and church services.
In addition to their homestays, the Japanese students and their local host buddies also participated in such group activities as touring Yorozu and Cumberland Caverns, swimming at the Gilley Pool, roller skating at Hot Wheels, visiting Rock Island State Park and riding horses with the Warren County Saddle Club.
One highlight of the visit was a cultural performance, complete with traditional dances and origami, given by the Japanese students at a banquet at McMinnville County Club.
The Japanese delegation returned to the Land of the Rising Sun last week.