Twenty-one Japanese students from Seisa High School arrived at MHS on Thursday and spent five fun-filled days with their local hosts.
MHS and Seisa High have been partners in an exchange program for 25 years now.
The program started in 1986 when two amateur radio friends, Yasuo Miyazawa of Japan and the late Bert Thompson, a teacher from MHS, decided to build a “friendship bridge.”
Miyazawa attended yesterday’s farewell ceremony.
Saipan Mayor Donald P. Flores, Associate Education Commissioner for Administrative Services Peter James Le’au, and Seisa High School principal Koniko Sasaki were also present.
“This program is a great program which I support,” Flores said. “This is one of the programs that really focus on learning about the cultures of other countries,”
Miyazawa, for his part, said: “Thank you so much to the MHS students. You give us very good support and cooperation. This program would not be successful without you. I respect you very much.”
Le’au, for his part, said: “Witnessing what Mr. Miyazawa does for his students inspired [MHS principal Craig] Garrison and I to be the leaders we are today.”
At the end of the ceremony, each host and Japanese student received a certificate.
Many of the local hosts had tears in their eyes.
The students told Variety that even though they spent only five days together, they had formed a special bond and it was extremely hard to finally say goodbye.
