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Please help support our recent 50th Anniversary events & the three high school students we are sending to Japan in June.
Spokane-Nishinomiya Sister City Society
Celebrating Fifty Years of Friendship!
| Lei Silva Before the exchange trip to Nishinomiya in the summer of 2010, I knew it was going to be a life-changing experience, because it was my dream to visit Japan since childhood. When that ambition was finally realized, I had no clue how different it was going to be from my naive expectations. Not even 3 years of learning Japanese could compare the full immersion I experienced in only 6 weeks. I learned so much at an insane pace, stayed with an incredible family, made great friends, and not only broadened my understanding of Japan but world cultures in general. One of the best parts of the trip, however, was bonding with my exchange sister, Mai Daigo, and her family. The relationship and memories we developed together are driving me to go back some day to where it all happened. So now that I've visited the "Land of my Dreams", I definitely feel the need to expand on the knowledge I've gained from this program. I am still taking Japanese even though my high school years are over, and I am itching to go back there and learn more about this fascinating culture until I am satisfied (and in this situation, I will probably never be "satisfied" - Can't get enough!). I'm even more excited to reunite with my family on the other side of the world. I could go on writing 4 more paragraphs about this trip, but I will end it like this: I am so thankful the Sister City Society gave the opportunity to experience this. Thank you! Below are some of my photos while in Japan. |