Program:     Marc called on each of the students to give a presentation.

Shastha Suresh introduced himself.  He graduated from Aragon High School and will be leaving in 3 weeks for a student exchange to a town north of Milan, Italy for 10 months.  He will be returning next year to attend UC Davis.   

Victoria Ferrero is our exchange student coming from Bra, Italy, famous for cheese and sausages.  She introduced herself and shared details about her life in Italy.  She graced us with pictures of her extended family, her town, school, and fellow students and friends.  She discussed her love for traveling and her experiences in the United States. She is 16 and excels in Skiing and Golf—she holds a 13.4 handicap! (Weeping in the audience among the golfers was evident--)   

Japanese Cultural Immersion Experience:

Noah, Abbey and Brendan shared experiences from their recent trip to Japan and the families that hosted them.  They participated in traditional activities like the Karuto game, attending a fire ceremony at a temple, and taking part in cooking classes where they made desserts. They also described a special day involving a visit to a Buddhist temple, a meeting with the Mayor of Edogawa, and a carriage ride through Tokyo, during which they were dressed in traditional kimonos and experienced various cultural rituals. The students explained that the process of dressing in kimonos took longer for girls due to the complexity of the garments and the time required for hair styling.

Their impressions of Japan culture and the differences with the USA included Japan’s stricter public behavior norms, intense work environments, and a unique school system where teachers move between classrooms. They were also impressed with Japan's efficient public transportation systems, cleanliness, and respect for shared spaces.  They would like to see these adopted in American culture.