Five Japanese Students Attend Bonny Slope for Two Weeks

At the end of October, Bonny Slope Elementary was the temporary school for five Japanese exchange students from Katoh Elementary in Numazu, Shizuoka Japan, approximately 80 miles southwest of Tokyo.

As part of their school’s English immersion program, these students traveled to the United States for two weeks in order to enrich their understanding of the American society and culture. Hisako Kuwana, Jikun Ryu, Risa Furusako, Yuyu Kawakami, and Rintaro Inoue stayed with Bonny Slope families and attended class with Sara Carter, Leah Miller, Kendall Klein, Harry Zabel, and Tyler Loescher.

They participated in all of the class studies and activities, including Passport Club, classroom Harvest parties, and cafeteria lunches! They also participated in numerous family activities from soccer practices to visiting OMSI to going shopping. Several of the Japanese students commented on the fast pace of life we Americans live when compared to their lives at home. They were also fascinated with some of the Halloween “traditions” like carving pumpkins, dressing up in costumes, and going door-to-door for candy. The Katoh Elementary students returned home on November 3rd with many fond memories that will last a lifetime!