Christmas Cultural Exchange

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Haruya Sasaki, a student at Tagadai Elementary School, and Alexis Beshears, a student at Sollars, share smiles and tips on the best way to make the reindeer decoration at the arts and crafts corner during a Christmas cultural exchange here Dec. 8, 2007. (Photo by Simon Bernard)

Christmas Cultural Exchange

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Breonna Ruffin, an American Student, and Mizuki Kondo, a Japanese student, exchange gifts at a Christmas cultural exchange here Dec. 8, 2007. Not only did each child bring a gift from home to give, everyone made a Christmas decoration with a personalized message for their new friend to exchange as well. (Photo by Simon Bernard)

Volunteers make Christmas very merry, international

Published Dec. 12, 2007
By Simon Bernard

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Christmas came early to Misawa Dec. 8. More than 60 sixth grade children from Oirase Town (formerly Shimoda and Momoishi) and their counterparts from Sollars and Cummings Elementary Schools spent the morning sharing the Christmas spirit with each other.

The annual event took place at the Sollars gym/cafeteria and was staffed with volunteers from the Chapel's Single Sailor's and Airman's Ministry Center.

As soon as the children arrived they were divided into three equal mixed groups and proceeded to participate in games and activities organized by Airman 1st Class Lori Burlingham, 35th Medical Support Squadron, and Airman 1st Class Caley Hayes, 301st Intelligence Squadron.

While one group made a Christmas decoration with a personalized message to be exchanged later, another group played games in the gym. The third group went to the international cultural corner. Through interactive games they learned each others' names and got a chance to ask questions of the other culture.

"Do you like sushi?" "Can you ice skate?" "What is your favorite food?" These types of questions gave the children an insight into each others' lives.

After a 25 minute session, the children rotated to the next area. Amazingly, the children came up with some spontaneous ideas as well. Terrell Boley, a sixth grader from Sollars, asked if he could teach the Japanese children a hip-hop dance. "Well, why not," we said. So the Japanese children lined up and followed the American children's steps and it was a highlight of the day!

Energy needed to be replenished, so the volunteers passed out pizzas and drinks to the hungry group. This also gave the cultures a chance to mesh, as the children tried to communicate with gestures and other expressions while they ate.

All tanked up and ready to go on, they returned to the gym where the Japanese children taught everyone an original Christmas song in English and Japanese. At the finale each child paired up with another and presented their new friend with a hand-made decoration and another present they brought.

Instead of good-bye, there were lots of jaa-nee (see you) and Ome-de-tou Me-ri
Ku-ri-su-ma-su (Merry Christmas) with smiles and waving as we departed.

I would like to say doomo arigatou (Thank you) to all the volunteers, as well as the Chapel, Air Force Sergeants Association and Focus 5/6, for providing funding to make this annual event possible.

Merry Christmas to all!