July 31, 2002

Students experience overseas education

Local residents Erin Rea and Matthew Dursum visit Japanese sister state

By LISA PERKINS
Herald staff writer
       If Erin Rea and Matthew Dursum have their way, their recent trip to Japan with the Michigan/Shiga Student Exchange Program won't be their last.
      "I think this trip was a real eye opener, especially seeing how other cultures live. I would really like to go back and see more," said Rea who will be a senior at Traverse City West Senior High this fall.
      In July, Rea and Dursum were part of a 15 student delegation, sponsored by the Michigan Department of Education Student Exchange Program, to visit the Shiga Prefecture - Michigan's sister state. The program, which began in 1990, places students with host families within the Shiga Prefecture where they participate in their host families daily lives and traditions as well as attend school. Students from Japanese host families also make a visit to Michigan in the fall.
      Students from across the state are chosen from an application process which includes showing ability to learn some Japanese phrases and presenting a speech on why they want to participate in the program.
      Dursum, who will be a senior at Traverse City Saint Francis this fall, had been hoping to participate in the two-week trip since hearing about the program while attending a Japanese art exhibit at NMC a few years ago.
      "I've always been interested in the Japanese culture. My dad went to Japan back in the 50s and I grew up hearing the stories and looking at his pictures," Dursum said.
      "The country is so beautiful, and clean. Everyone had told me how clean it would be, but the streets were spotless, there was no garbage anywhere," Dursum noted.
      Dursum and Rea's host families - including a student of the same age - not only made them feel right at home, they took them to tour temples, area cities and towns, invited them into their schools and sampled traditional Japanese fare in local restaurants.
      "Yuki's parents didn't speak much English and I don't speak much Japanese, but we managed to communicate," Rea said.
      "I did learn a few useful phrases like 'good morning,' 'thank you' and 'sorry,'" Rea noted.
      Dursum's host family made his Japanese experience one he won't soon forget.
      "My host family, the Tani's, were absolutely wonderful, extremely generous, they took me in as one of their own," said Dursum, who looks forward to this September's visit from 17-year-old Tani Kyouhei.
      "We plan to take them to the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Mackinac Island, maybe Pictured Rocks and Detroit," Dursum noted. The visitors will also attend school with their hosts.
      Dursum hopes that this is only the beginning of a long relationship with his new friends.
      "As soon as I can afford the plane ticket - I'm back."