Bryan Jones via Compfight

“Minasan, Otsukaresama deshita.”

On November 10, these words welcomed 119 Japanese students from Hikone Sogo. With polite bows and greetings, McKinley’s Japanese 3 class led the students to Hirata Hall, where they were greeted with a cultural performance from the Polynesian Club.

The students were then split into groups, and after a few quick pictures the tour around McKinley’s campus began. During the tour, the Hikone Sogo students were able to experience the atmosphere of an American High School. The Japanese 3 students led their groups around and explained what each of the buildings were for, and the different classes McKinley students can take.

The Japanese students were also able to experience a fire drill and the long walks between classes McKinley students take from class to class. After the tour, the Japanese 3 class and Hikone Sogo students got together for a lunch of cheeseburgers and saimin, followed by afternoon activity.

Back at Hirata Hall, the Japanese 3 students were then treated to a cultural bon dance display by the students from Hikone Sogo. The Japanese 3 students then gave a fashion show to show the Hikone Sogo students the clothes and daily wear of the students in McKinley. ‘Simon Says’ and ‘Red Light/ Green Light’ were the highlighting games, where both Hikone Sogo and McKinley students played against each other for fun and prizes.

The day ended as the buses drove away, the Japanese 3 class standing in front of A-building waving goodbye. As the class broke up to clean up, many sighed with relief. Until the next visitation.