The group takes a quick break to pose for a photo after lunch at Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre in Osoyoos, before heading over to Rattlesnake Canyon on August 3. Erin Christie Photo
Yuka Takahashi, 13, left, and Misato Endo,13, right, discover what snakeskin feels like during the snake show held at Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre in Osoyoos August 3.
Erin Christie
It was a weekend they will never forget. Ten teens can now count themselves as world travellers after making the long journey from Japan to Canada this weekend. The teens, all of whom said they had never left their homeland before, were part of a delegation visiting from Oliver’s sister city, Bandai, Japan.
The group, which included ten junior highschool students, as well as two staff members from their school, arrived in Oliver Friday evening and departed Monday morning. Their whirlwind visit included dinner at the mayor’s house, a trip to the Osoyoos Farmer’s Market, Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, Rattlesnake Canyon Fun Centre, swimming and a picnic at Haynes Point. The group also attended the Michael Burgess concert on Saturday evening. Their trip concluded with a visit to Vancouver before heading home on Tuesday.
The students each had to complete an essay in order to qualify for this trip, which was funded by the town of Bandai. The ten students were selected out of twenty applicants. Upon their return, each student will continue their education by writing and giving speeches about their experience. Mayor Ron Hovanes said he felt the visit was a huge success and he is looking forward to sending a delegation of local youth in 2014.
“The whole community treated them so well,” he said.
“A big thank–you goes to the Martine family, the Larson family, town council members, our youth ambassadors and candidates, and everyone else who gave up most of their long weekend to make this visit a huge success.” The town is planning to send an adult delegation to Bandai in November.
