Final Reflection
I have expanded my world while on this Hawaii-Okinawa Student Exchange program. I can honestly say it was life changing. It gave me a whole new perspective of Okinawa and my culture. It made me appreciate my heritage. My host family the Yonahas and Takase my host student have shown me the Okinawan customs and their way of life. I am grateful for their warm hospitality and loving home. Takase was a kind, generous, happy, helpful genuine girl. I had gotten the chance to become close with her and her family. I still keep in contact with her through email.
In closing, I hope that other students will have the same opportunity as I did to participate in this exchange program. The close bonds such as that between Hawaii and Okinawa are crucial for future generations. If other countries develop such bonds, this world will be a better place where peace will prevail.

June 19, 2010 - Going home :(

Two weeks in Okinawa went by so fast, and I wasn't ready to return to Hawaii. I was sad to leave my host family in Okinawa. I love the Yonaha family! The morning before I left I went to beautiful beaches.

Above: Cape Manzano


Above: At the Airport with Takase and Moeko

June 18, 2010 - Last day of School

I had a lot of fun on the last day of school. I followed the English teacher to all of her classes and my homeroom surprised me at the end of the day with special messages. It was really sad leaving all of my new friends.

Above: Homeroom students


Above: The drawing the students made for me.

June 17, 2010 - School and Aloha Party

I had an awesome day at school, as always. I also got to teach my homeroom students and special education students the hula! They really enjoyed and appreciated it.

Picture Left: All of the students I taught hula.












The Aloha party-
It felt like we were just at the Welcome Party meeting the Yonaha Family for the first time but here is the farewell "Aloha" party. I had a good time at the Aloha party. The food was delicious and the entertainment by the Okinawa students was also great! It was fun dancing on the stage with the Okinawa students!

Above: Okinawa students singing

Above: Okinawa officials, Hawaii students, Okinawa students and host families

Above: The Yonaha Family with me! :)


Above: Anthony and me with the host students

June 16, 2006 - Churaumu Aquarium

In the morning before going to the aquarium, "Okasan" took me on excursions. I thought it was so sweet of her to take off work to take me.
(Picture Left=At a diving beach)




















Jennifer, Carly, Kathy, Tani and Rylee

The aquarium was amazing and huge!

June 14 & 15 -- School

School was the time where I got to interact with other high school students. Most of the students could speak English. I met some amazingly nice people. I went to swim class with Takase but observed and talked with some of her friends. I met one of her friends named Saki. The next day at lunch time she came to visit me at my homeroom and she had brought me cake and juice. The Okinawan people are always so polite, generous and friendly.

Picture = Chibisaki "Saki" and me

June 13, 2010 -- Shopping day!

On Sunday Takase and I went to Jusco Center to meet up with Mizuki, Richard, Emu, Sara, Jon and Mariko. I was surprised that their mall was so big! The first thing we did was go to the arcade to the purikura (picture-taking booth)! Finally, I could do some shopping! I had a long list for omiyages (gifts) to buy. I brought a very large suitcase to carry home all those goodies. We went to the food court for lunch and I bought my favorite foods, udon and vegetable tempura, for only 210 yen. I couldn't believe how cheap it was. At the mall we (Hawaii kids) even went on a ferris wheel. It was pretty scary and it moved really slow, but the view was great. After going on the ferris wheel, we just wondered around and bonded with each other. Everyone had a lot of fun!
In the evening, Takase's neighbor invited us over to a wedding party. I hesitated to go since it was already 8:00 p.m. I didn't know if they could speak English but I went anyway. I'm so glad I went! They were all so friendly and many of them could speak good English. They said funny jokes and treated me very well by feeding me a lot of sushi and dessert plus they kept asking me questions. I didn't want to leave, but we had school the next day.