Children's cultural exchange party enlightening

  • Published
  • By Simon Bernard
  • Volunteer writer
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  
The 8th annual Momoishi, Oirase Town and Misawa Air Base 5th grade children's cultural exchange party was held at Sollars Elementary School March 24. More than 80 American and Japanese children participated in this year's event.

The day started with the Japanese youth arriving by buses provided by the Oirase Town Hall. They were met with the paperwork to get on base by our Master Sgt. Kevin Moneace from the 35th Mission Support Squadron, who has been volunteering at this event for three years.

The children went for a short tour of the base while on the way to Hanger 911 where Staff Sgt. Richard Groff, 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, swung the doors open to let the children get a close up view of an F-16. The group was split up with one group touring a weapons display while the others climbed the F-16 ladder and peeked into the cockpit.

The group then moved to Sollars gym, where we met John Tayag with more than 40 5th graders from Sollars and Cummings anxious to make friends and get the party started.

Splitting up into three equal groups, the children played interactive games. The fun seemed to break down any cultural differences and shyness they had!

In one of the games called "Whose shoe is it anyway?" they all had to take off one of their sneakers and place them in two piles. After learning "ready, set, go!" in Japanese, the American children called to the Japanese children to grab a shoe and find the owner.

Conversely, the Japanese children called in English for the American children to grab one of their shoes. The fun began as they had to memorize each other's name and ask or answer a question the Japanese children asked them in English.

After working up an appetite, all the kids went into the cafeteria where they were treated to pizza and drinks. Sitting together gave them more time to make friends. It did not take them long to plow through 20 pizzas! Going back to the gym, we lined up an American on one side facing a Japanese on the other. When the signal was given, each presented the other with a small gift and said thank you and domo arigato!

Many of the American children went to the Weasels' Den where the fun continued for another hour or so. To top off the day, the Japanese children were treated to a scoop of ice cream at the food court. They ended up not only taking home some delicious American pizzas as souvenirs to their families but even more important, left with a lasting good impression of American hospitality that will last a life time!

All of this good will would not have been possible without the help of the sponsorship and volunteers of the 35th Maintenance Group, the Focus 5/6, the Top Three and parents of the Sollars and Cummings 5th graders.