The celebration started on Feb. 17. “We had a dinner celebration and that’s where the students got paired up with their Japanese student partners,” said MHS counselor Cherlyn Cabrera.
MHS students held a welcome ceremony for the Japanese students on the following day at the school’s gym.
“Once a year, we visit the school and this year we have 63 students from Seisa High School,” its principal Hajime Kaneko said.
Cultural performances were presented by the Chamorro Club and Refaluwasch Culture Club while the Japanese students presented a karate demonstration.
“They shared something about each other’s culture. They played the drums, did bead making as well as different arts and crafts from both places,” said Cabrera.
Members of the MHS Chamorro Club taught their Japanese counterparts how to use banana peels as dance costumes.
“We taught them how to peel the banana leaves, how they’re used for dancing and how we put them on our necks and legs,” said Joyce Camacho, senior student and vice president of the Chamorro Club.
Seisa high school students taught MHS students how to play the sum drum.
Asher Crisostomo, MHS senior student, was interested to know more about the Japanese musical instrument.
“They are teaching us how to play drums in their cultural way. I’m a big fan of music and music really entertains me,” he said.
Friday was also Wellness Day on the MHS campus where different booths were set up. There was food and entertainment.
“It’s like a health and wellness activity simultaneously done with the cultural events,” said Cabrera
Students from both schools learned a lot from the exchange of knowledge and information.
“Our students love learning about different cultures. Japanese culture has been intertwined with ours so they are very curious about it. The Japanese students love coming here. I think what they appreciate the most is how friendly and outgoing our students are. They love the weather and they love coming to the island this time of year,” said Cabrera.
