Kali Gabriel-Baptiste has never been so spoiled in her life after a recent trip to Bandai, Japan.
But just don’t ask her to eat fish on a stick again unless the guts have been taken out.
The Grade 9 student from SOSS was one of seven who was selected to experience Bandai as part of Oliver’s sister-city exchange program.
Seventeen youth applied for the opportunity by submitting an essay to the Town. Besides Baptiste, the other pupils who went to Bandai were Lauren McGibbon, Mikayla Podmorow, Nikki Khela, Kenzie Harrington, Will Kane and Tony Abellan. Their chaperone was vice-principal Tracy Harrington.
The trip, organized by Mayor Ron Hovanes, was sponsored by the Town of Oliver and the city of Bandai, but the students had to pay one-third of their plane ticket.
The youth stayed with host families, where they learned much about Japanese culture.
“I felt really spoiled. They kept giving us gift after gift,” Baptiste said.
The city paid for the students to travel to the top of Tokyo Skytree, a 650-metre tower. Even from that height, you can’t see the end of Tokyo.
Staying with their host families was an eye-opening experience for the youth.
Khela noticed that home life is more family- oriented in Japan. Members eat meals together, watch television together and relax together.
“The kids are more obedient there; they never talk back,” Khela said.
Kenzie said everything in Japan is so different and fast-paced. The women stay home and make the meals while the men work in the rice fields. What’s for dinner? You guessed it – sticky rice.
Tracy agreed that Japan’s way of life is so incredibly different than life in North America. “It (the trip) was such a life-changing experience.”
For starters, try the fish-flavoured gum.
No doubt, there was a language barrier, but the students got by with hand gestures, digital translators and a lot of laughing.
Apparently, the most fun the students had focused around food.
It started when Baptiste said there was a leak in her noodles. There was a leak, but it was designed to be used as a spoon to eat the noodles.
Well, they laughed and they laughed . . . “there’s a leak in my noodles!”
Tracy said every time food was served, they waited to see what their hosts did before they started eating.
Baptiste got quite the surprise when she bit into a fish on a skewer without knowing that the guts were still inside.
“I had guts in my mouth, but I didn’t want to be disrespectful and spit it out.”
When Abellan bit into his fish, the eyeball popped out. He then put it in McGibbon’s mouth without her realizing what it was. Lucky there wasn’t a food fight.
McGibbon was adventurous by eating a small octopus. She actually ate the head first. Gross!
Tracy said when you’re eating in Japan, it’s better not knowing what your putting in your mouth.
Tracy recalled ordering sushi for lunch, which came on a conveyor belt. If you wanted a special dish, you ordered it via computer and you grabbed it when it came by.
Tracy thanked the Town of Oliver for providing this unique adventure for the students. She noted they are looking forward to hosting a group of Bandai students next year.
Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes said the Town is fortunate to have an ongoing sister city relationship that truly welcomes adult but especially student visitors.
He noted the bulk of the transportation cost was supplied by Bandai. A local fundraiser brought in $5,000 to support the trip as well.
“I know there are travel opportunities available to Oliver students, but this truly was a special opportunity. The students were able to share a rural Japanese experience with a community that has a strong relationship with our town.”
Hovanes said it is interesting when you speak to past participants of this ongoing exchange.
“It is a very special opportunity to visit a welcoming place so far away that becomes very much a personal experience.”
I always leave Japan feeling that it had made me a better global person and I believe this exchange will feel the same
For those that took part.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
