SRKSEP 2018
A visit with the students from Japan
In our featured program for August 9, Shauna Lorenzen introduced the club to the nine students visiting from Japan and their chaperone, Hiromi. The students are part of our annual SRKSEP program (Santa Rosa Kagoshima Student Exchange Program). This year the students from Japan visit us; next year Shauna and her crew round up students from Santa Rosa and take them to Japan! Shauna also reminded us of the upcoming visit between the mayor of Kagoshima City, Hiroyuki Mori, and other members of his group, who would be touring the fire damaged area and meeting with the mayor of Santa Rosa on Friday, and that Friday night we would be dining with the Japanese group at the Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club.
Hiromi confessed that she’d overslept and wasn’t completely ready for her presentation, but she did a great job! She’s an English teacher and an enthusiastic supporter of SRKSEP. She told us a little about the rich history of Kagoshima and its close ties to Santa Rosa through, among other things, the Friends of Kagoshima Association.
Hiromi’s talk was followed by a brief talk from each of the students. Each student told us something about his or her life in Japan, their joy at being in Santa Rosa, and their personal hobbies and current endeavors. Most are college students in Kagoshima, although there are one or two high school students. These young men and women are obviously high achievers, with talents and studies including language arts, music and dancing, sports, movies, at least one dog lover, calligraphy and dance. In fact, SRSKEP has expanded to include one student from Hiroshima! All are well on their way to fluency in English!
These young men and women are going to have a great time this week thanks to Shauna and the volunteers who get them to some of the most interesting places in the North Bay. They will carry on the tradition and further cement our ties to Kagoshima and Hiroshima.
Welcome SRKSEP students and have a fantastic time!
