Japan, Canada swap cultures on campus
By Michal Tellos
News Editor
August 5, 2009
 The Freed Orman Conference Centre recently played host to over 40 students from Fujisawa Japan, a sister city of Windsor.
The event, organized by the Global Partners Institute, began with speeches from Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis, as well as several delegates from Misono High School in Fujisawa.
This was followed by a series of exchanges between the two nations.
Cultural, athletic, artistic, linguistic, educational and culinary customs were observed and shared by the two nations.
Francis opened the afternoon by treating the visitors like one of Windsor’s own.
“We are very pleased that by being here you are certainly extending to us the strong relationships that we have with Fujisawa, our sister city and friend. It’s good to have family come to visit us. Welcome,” he said.
Francis spoke casually and candidly to the guests, joking that he had heard that the students had already become enamoured with certain Canadian customs, such as macaroni and cheese and potato chips.
“Sister city relationships are important, and they are more significant today than they’ve ever been,” said Francis. “The fact that we’re able to be here today to celebrate with Fujisawa and their school is a reflection of the importance of that relationship.”
Francis stressed the special importance of cultural relationships existing between students.
“Student relationships are more important, because the student relationships, from what I find, are able to further develop. The relationship is able to move perhaps quicker and more broadly than the political relationship. We’ve normally found, and often found that student relationships yield real outcomes positively,” he said.
Yuka Shimozato, an English teacher at Misono High School, agrees with Francis on the importance of sharing culture.
“I think in Japan most parents spoil their young children. Here it is different, more independent from the family. The experience of a different language, a different people, difficulties and fighting through them is important to these student,” she said, noting also that many average ideas, such as shopping, were entirely new to her students.
Cheryl Cavell, a representative of the Global Partners Institute, noted that as the world becomes so much more mobile, it is crucial for youth to be able to reach out, across cultures, in order to understand each other.
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