Sean C. Morgan
After a yearlong shutdown, five students are preparing to travel to Tokyo as part of the Josai University High School exchange program during the summer.
Sweet Home High School is hosting Mami Sakamoto from Josai this year, and it hosted Japanese students last summer after a snafu with federal paperwork the previous year temporarily suspended the exchange program.
Heading for Japan this summer are Lola Wingo, Allison Wickline, Molly Fisher, Shelby Dinsfriend and Makalha Mederos with home economics teacher and Josai coordinator Suzette Anderson.
“Mrs. (Deborah) Handman asked me if I’d help her with it this year because she had accepted the job in Creswell,” Anderson said. Handman had taken over the program from Cynde Burford when she retired from SHHS.
Handman saw the program through its summer visit from Josai last year, and then Anderson took over.
“I said, sure, I’d be happy to help,” Anderson said. “The beginning of the year, I was really slammed.”
She floundered with the program early on this year, she said. Nothing was written about what to do with the program, but Burford stepped up to mentor her.
The program is rolling along smoothly now, Anderson said. “Right now I have five students actively pursuing this trip to Japan.”
All but one have passports already, Anderson said, and they’re busy raising money for the trip. They’ll leave in mid-June for 12 to 14 days, she said.
“We’re learning Japanese phrases,” she said. “We all have to give a speech in Japanese.”
And they’re getting shirts that say “Sweet Home High School” in English and Japanese across the front. They’ll use them while they travel, and then they’ll be able to use them as gifts.
As they prepare, Anderson is busy keeping track of what she’s doing to help herself and future coordinators.
“I’m putting together a book for people who do this in the future,” Anderson said. “I’m a road map follower, but there’s no road map.”
Among fund-raising efforts, the program raised about $700 from raffling a quilt, Anderson said. Coming up, the international travelers will take orders for Figaro’s pizza. On May 17 or May 24, they’ll go to work at Figaro’s making the pizzas. Those funds will go into the Josai account, which will be available to purchase gifts for Sweet Home’s sister school.
“It’s more real,” Anderson said. “Things are starting to fall into place. I’m starting to learn a few Japanese phrases (although) they’re going to laugh. I know they will.”
For more information about the Josai program, call (541) 367-7142 or email Anderson at [email protected].