In July 2019 three Student Ambassadors from St. Petersburg, FL, spent eleven days in our Japanese Sister City, Takamatsu. These are their stories.
Ellie Anderson
St. Petersburg High School
As I sat on the last leg of my flight to Takamatsu, I pondered what my next 10 days would be like in a country that I could not speak the language of and had nevervisited before. The overwhelming kindness of the people of Takamatsu, and especially my host family, the Ookas, made me feel like I could spend a lifetime in this unfamiliar place. With days brimming with fun and adventure, the only way to tell the story of my trip is with the pictures accompanying.
On the first day of our trip, Layla Sumilang, Taylor Johnson, and I visited the Kagawa museum. Not only did we learn about the history of the Kagawa prefecture (the prefecture in which Takamatsu is located), but we also tried on the Junihitoe, a twelve-layer kimono worn by noblewomen in the 700s-1100s. Although I felt very regal in the outfit, I only tried on 4 layers in the unairconditioned museum and could barely lift my arms. The museum workers also taught us the art of the kendama, a Japanese ball game that no one seemed to master except for Layla. That same day, we visited the amazing planetarium, where the guides told us the stories of the stars. I noticed throughout the trip the significance of Tanabata day, a Japanese holiday where two stars, a princess and a cowherder, are allowed to meet across the river that separates them. Our trip to Japan is much like Tanabata day, we spent 10 amazing days with our families, but cannot see them for at least another year! The hope in Tanabata day is that stars age millions of years, and since the two stars meet every year, it is like they are meeting every few seconds. I too, talk to my host brother Ikunosuke, and the other students Rintaro and Moe every day over Snapchat, so the distance does not feel so great at all.
On our second day, we visited Mount Yashima. Mount Yashima has both beautiful views of the Seto Inland Sea and is home to the 84th temple in an 88-temple pilgrimage. Although I felt bad about skipping the first 83, the 84th was beautiful. The ancient temples in Japan are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before: so well preserved and respected. Before entering a temple, you have to clean your hands, pouring water over your left hand, right, left again and bringing some to your lips. I mistakenly took a sip of the water, but hopefully I’m hardier for it, because I did not die. I learned from that and didn’t drink any more cloudy temple water. With time to spare, our gracious coordinator, Masako Tsuru, decided to take us to the park. This was one of my favorite places in Takamatsu. I got to appreciate the full beauty of the sea, as it expanded on every side of me, dotted with green mountains and growing islands. As we reached the observation point, we all stopped and listened to the bird calls while enjoying the view. The Takamatsu ambassadors said one of their favorite parts of St. Petersburg was the flat view of the water and the sunset, unobstructed by mountains, but if I were them, I would not trade my mountains for anything. I’m glad that in our exchange, we both were able to appreciate and experience the waning natural beauty that so needs to be protected from development and pollution.
On our third day in Takamatsu, we visited the famous Ritsurin garden. Stepping into this garden was like stepping back into the Edo period when it was constructed. We drank bitter matcha in a tea ceremony, and although it was quite different from any drink I’ve had before, I felt the pep in my step as we continued around the garden. We rode on a boat around the water in this picture, and saw the island shrine in the middle of the pond where the feudal lords would pray for their people. Our boat guide was especially adept at ducking the low bridges while still propelling us from place to place. Ritsurin garden was serene.
On our host family day, we first watched (and later participated in) a Japanese drum show. When we heard we had backstage passes, we assumed that we would be looking at the drums and talking to the drummers after the show. During the intermission, however, our families urged us to stand up and we walked into a hallway with a disproportionate amount of children. At first, I was nervous about going up on stage, but the drummers were very kind, even though I didn’t always get the rhythm. It was a lot of fun, in the end, to be silly with my host brother and all of our friends, and definitely the kind of experience that only comes one. Later in the day, we visited a cat café. The café, apparently had a “Store Manager” cat who ran the show. A little black and white cat made it apparent from his jaunty red bowtie and swift movements that he was the boss there. I had a great time playing with all the cats, sipping coffee, and chatting with my friends, but Layla and I noticed that my host brother’s best friend, her host father, and her host sister all had red puffy eyes. Despite all having cat allergies, they braved the one place most dangerous for them just to be kind to us. Although we asked them if they wanted to leave, they all wanted to stay, even for an extra 10 minutes! It astounded me that they would be so self-sacrificing even for girls they had met just 4 days before, and really inspired me to not be selfish or self-focused, because if they can sit, allergic to cats, in a café full of 15 cats for an hour than surely I can always make the time in my day to help a friend.
I spent another day of the trip at Takamatsu Daiichi High School, Taylor’s host sister’s school. The day before I made friends with a girl named Yuri, and I shadowed her on this day too. I was in the science-focused class, and though Biology in Japanese completely escaped me, I believe I learned some vector math that morning. English class was my time to shine, and the students all asked me questions. I got a few silly ones. I ended up drawing a taco on the board and explaining the plot of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to the class. The students at the high school were all dedicated and happy to chat. They all made such an effort to speak in English with me that I want to continue taking Japanese lessons so I can someday reciprocate.
On our last day in Takamatsu, we visited an onsen with Layla’s host mother and sisters. We brought our bathing suits to the bathhouse and were a bit surprised when they were… not needed. It was a very freeing and calming experience, and nice to feel the peace and solitude of the hot spring. I did not feel uncomfortable at all, and it showed me to feel safe in my own skin and to place trust in others. After we bather, I had the best food of the entire trip, amazing beef udon, Takamatsu’s specialty. It put the udon we made in udon school days earlier to shame.
Leaving Takamatsu brought tears to my eyes, as it does now. Although our host students came to St. Petersburg, I dearly missed my host mother, Tomomi. My family was so hospitable and always trying to make me happy. We always laughed, especially in disastrous attempts to make friend ship bracelets with my little brother Kyotarou, late night viewing of Stranger Things dubbed over in Japanese, and wasabi eating competitions. I cannot wait to go back someday, because the Sister Cities program not only shows the family in cities halfway across the world, but creates families halfway across the world.
Layla Sumilang
St. Petersburg High School
To an “expert public school student” from St. Petersburg, a dress code always means some fragment of clothing- and yet, there I was 8,000 miles away, about to step into a public bath completely devoid of any such “dress”. At that moment, it was difficult to sustain the pride I felt in winning my city’s endorsement as a student ambassador to our sister city in Takamatsu, but it was a part of the trip that taught me so much about myself. Not merely that I could take risks like embracing nude Japanese onsens, but also that my ambitions can lead me to radical experiences. Being an avid analyzer of movies, I am told that I see things in life with an unrealistic “sparkly” film over them. I know that life is hardly ever as magical as displayed in movies, yet my encounter with Japanese culture gave me the hope that it could be.
Upon arrival, I was instantly captivated by aspects of Japanese culture that I learned about in Japanese culture lessons being practiced in everyday life. I was fascinated with small details like announcing “tadaima” when entering the house, having a separate pair of inside shoes, or bowing to the teacher at the beginning of every lesson. I want to spend the rest of my life exploring the elements of a culture that make it unique.
I also got to teach English at a local high school and give a presentation about St. Pete High and the truths in American high school stereotypes. Even better, I met with the mayor of Takamatsu and discussed how political parties differ in Japan and the U.S. He was curious about whether the youth is as divided as our parents. I inquired about his goals as newly re-elected mayor and discovered that with the declining birth rate & aging society in Japan, his priority is increasing tourism in order to attract immigration. Japanese society is very homogenous, polite, and collectivist – much unlike American culture. It was very interesting to think in the mindset of someone from a culture so distinct from America’s individualistic community. I learned to appreciate things I used to take for granted, but I also gained new values from Japan that I will apply to my own life.
My trip also had its share of culture shocks like the nude onsen and trying a traditional matcha tea ceremony and let me tell you, Starbucks has got it all wrong. Jumping into unknown situations lies at the heart of travel and my experiences taught me to embrace the magic in taking risks. In the end, the most inspiring aspect of Japanese culture was their faith in the power of wishes. I was enchanted by the abundance of ways to make wishes come true: tying paper wishes to trees during Tanabata, walking through the Chinobowa ring, and throwing stones into the Kanawakagare rings down the mountainside, just to name a few.
The best part, though, was building relationships with my host family that I truly believe will last. I learned how to make connections and understand the human condition without formal language. The expressiveness of ping pong, Mario Kart, and karaoke seemed to transcend any language barrier. I had a wonderful time showing our host students- Rintaro, Iku, and Moe- around our beautiful city. Their days were jam packed with trips to Rainbow River, bowling alleys, mural tours, museums, & Skyzone trampoline park. I was also fortunate enough to have the opportunity to take Rintaro wakeboarding with my friends. I know he also thoroughly enjoyed the chance to play videogames with my boyfriend. I have no doubt that our friendship will endure, despite the distance. This experience was one that I will cherish for years to come.
Taylor Johnson
St. Petersburg Collegiate High School
In the short eleven days that I spent in Japan, I gained a second family and a number of lifelong friends. Despite the language barrier and our cultural differences, I felt a deep connection to both my host family and classmates. Through the help of Google Translate and some interesting hand gestures, I communicated with the people of Takamatsu and learned what it’s like to live there, gaining a vastly different perspective from my own. I wore a yukata, or summer dress, with my host sister, Moe. I attended a Takamatsu high school, and made more friends than I can count. I made traditional Japanese candy, and took a gondola ride down Ritsurin-koen river. Through trips to Takamatsu centers of culture,such as Ritsurin Garden, Yashima-ji Temple, and Konpira-san Shrine, I learned about the beauty and richness of Japanese history, religion, and traditions. I gained a profound respect for the friendliness and hospitality of the Japanese people. My final day in Takamatsu was my saddest one. It was extremely difficult saying goodbye to my host family, who I had come to know and love so much. I hope to see them again one day.
A week after my return home, the ambassadors of Takamatsu – Rintaro, Iku, and Moe- flew to America to experience life here in St. Petersburg. Ellie, Layla and I packed as much as humanly possible of our favorite parts of St. Petersburg into the eleven days they were here for. We played frisbee together on the beach, drifted lazily down Rainbow River, and went head-to-head in games of foosball and laser tag. I showed Moe dog beach, where we played in the water with my black retriever, Luna, and Ellie’s lab, Maverick, as we watched the sun set. We looked at Jupiter and its planets with my telescope, and stared in awe at the constellations visible from my back porch. We ate froyo and ice cream almost every day, and I made American delicacies such as spaghetti and macaroni and cheese. My family fell in love with my host sister, Moe, just as I had. We miss her incredibly. Seeing Moe, Iku, and Rintaro off at the airport was heartrending. I had cultivated such intense connections to each of them in the brief time that I had gotten to know them, and knowing that I would likely not see them again for a long time, if at all, was deeply saddening. However, I’m still in contact with them, and they remain some of my most treasured friends in this world.
During this exchange, I’ve made friendships that will last a lifetime, both with the Takamatsu ambassadors and my fellow St. Petersburg ambassadors. I will forever be grateful for the memories I have of this exchange. In my endeavor to learn more about the values, beliefs, and traditions of the people of Takamatsu, I’ve broadened my worldview and gained a second home. Through the connections I’ve felt and relationships I’ve cultivated, I’ve strengthened the bond between the sister cities and America and Japan at large. I’ve come to realize that although we are different in many ways, we are alike in the ways that count.
