A group of Japanese students and their host families spent an afternoon exploring a dairy farm northwest of Innisfail last Wednesday.
The crew of students are 28 of 162 that arrived from Yokohama, Japan April 13 as part of the Japan/Canada Student Exchange that runs every three years in partnership with Innisfail Jr./Sr., Notre Dame and H.J Cody high schools. This year Lindsay Thurber High School will partner as well.
“The smell is really not good,” laughed Sayaka Kai, 16, of the inside of YFF Dairy farm. This is her first time in Canada and while she agreed it was “fun to see the cows,” Alberta is a little too cold for her liking.
“It's too cold. Every morning when I wake up I want warmer weather,” she said.
The group of students took turns taking photos and petting cows who came up to the bars that separated them from the students.
Sam Peturson, Grade 10, who is hosting Kai said she'll be one of the 79 students heading to Japan this summer from July 20 to Aug. 4.
“I can't wait for Tokyo Disney — it should be so much fun.”
Rod Andrews, teacher with Innisfail Jr./Sr. High School said the school has been participating in the exchange since the 1980s.
“It creates a special bond for some of the students that continues. I think they realize teens are teens regardless of culture,” he said of the experience.
By travelling to Japan students also get to experience a lot of the cultural differences he said, using the school system as an example.
“At the schools they're still using chalkboards instead of whiteboards,” he said, adding that students remain in one room and the teachers move around. “Tradition and respect is huge there.”
On the evening of April 17, all 162 exchange students displayed their talents and heritage with cultural booths and events for their hosts at Notre Dame High School.
Different booths gave people a chance to decorate fans, write their name in Japanese characters, dress in traditional clothes and play various games.
There was a gym dance and judo demonstrations as well as cheerleading.
“The cheerleading was out of this world,” said Tanika Leppa, Grade 10. She and her friend Courtney Orton will also be heading to Japan this summer where it'll be their chance to show off Canada's heritage.
“I'm not really sure what we'll do yet but I think we'll be singing a song” said Orton. The two don't know how to speak Japanese and hope a translation app on their phone will help them out.
The Japanese students leave Alberta April 27. During their stay they also had a chance to visit West Edmonton Mall and Banff as well as other sites in the area.
