Reproduced from
Weather doesn’t dampen students’ trip to Japan
Author(s): Leean Tupper
leean.tupper@oakridger.com
Date: July 19, 2007 Section: Community
Ten students and two teachers have returned safely to Oak Ridge after a
week-long visit to Naka, Japan.
“It was the experience of a lifetime,” Jefferson Middle School
teacher Rachel Haun, one of the chaperones, told The Oak Ridger on
Wednesday.
“I didn’t think that in that short amount of time you could make
lifelong friends — but you can,” Haun said.
Robertsville Middle School teacher Myriah Cain, also a chaperone,
agreed the trip was “wonderful.”
“I really cannot say a negative thing about it,” Cain added.
The group arrived in Japan early last week. They were greeted by
their host families, who applauded them at the airport gate, Haun said.
The visit was part of the Sister City exchange program in cooperation
with Oak Ridge’s two middle schools. The students had a variety of
experiences, according to their chaperones.
As a group, the students and chaperones, along with their host
families, toured the town of Naka, Japan, visited the scientific
laboratory located there, watched some science experiments, and also
visited the local aquarium and the beach.
Each student also participated in individual activities with their host
families throughout the week, Haun explained.
“They did a great job of exposing us to all the culture and
traditions,” Cain said.
By the end of the trip, Haun said each student was glad to have had the
experience.
“Addie Williams said it was ‘amazing,’” Haun said.
“I’m really proud of all the students,” Cain noted. “They jumped in
there and experienced everything whole-heartedly.”
Williams, a student at Jefferson, was one member of the 10-student
delegation. Other students from Jefferson Middle School who made the
trip were Emily McLean, Hannah Bailey, Taylor Kress, and Zach Pickett.
Students from Robertsville Middle School who participated were Emily
Ducko, Parks Fillauer, Rachel Oliver, Matthew Reat, and Austin Tatum.
Thought there were a few weather alarms during their stay, both teachers
said the students were a little rattled but calm once they understood
what was happening.
While in Naka, located near Japan’s eastern shore, all the
students and Haun experienced the tremors of an earthquake that hit on
the island’s west coast. Cain said she didn’t notice the tremor because
she was outside when the quake hit.
“You really don’t notice it, my host said, unless you’re inside a
structure,” Cain stated.
“We had a typhoon, an earthquake and the threat of a tsunami, but the
kids did great,” Haun said.
Leean Tupper can be contacted at (865) 220-5501. |