Japanese students from Palo Alto’s sister city of Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, Japan canceled plans for an exchange trip this weekend following Friday’s devastating earthquake and tsunami, according to exchange program coordinator Keiko Nakajima.
Nakajima, who teaches Japanese at both Jane Lathrop Stanford and Jordan middle schools, explained that 16 Japanese exchange students were originally expected to stay with host families in Palo Alto and attend classes at local middle schools.
Nakajima noted that while the situation in Tsuchiura remains uncertain, none of the exchange students were injured during the earthquake.
“The situation is very uncertain and some damage has occurred in Tsuchiura City, which is very near the epicenter of one of yesterday’s tremors,” Nakajima said. “They didn’t have tsunami waves, but [a magnitude] 6.0 earthquake hit the city. The students are okay, but water and electricity has been cut off to most of areas in the city.”
Due to current conditions in the city, Tsuchiura officials informed Nakajima that the trip would have to be called off.
“Some of our host students successfully communicated with their guests who were supposed arrive here this [yesterday] afternoon,” Nakajima said. “They were told that the Tsuchiura people are okay, but the families slept in the car during the tremors. The Tsuchiura Office later informed [us] that they are not planning to come at all.”
Junior Alex Carter, whose family was scheduled to host Kenjiro, a Japanese exchange student, was relieved to hear that none of the students were injured, but expressed disappointment that the visit would be canceled.
“Kenjiro told us that he is okay, but that his house is ‘soppy’ and that he had to spend the night in his dad’s car,” Carter said. “I am sad about it [the trip cancellation], because it seems like they should have been able to come after everything gets cleaned up.”
Students at J.L.S. and Jordan usually reciprocate the exchange and visit Japan during the summer. Despite the earthquake, Nakajima said plans for the summer trip will be pushed forward.
“I asked the city [Tsuchiura] about our visit since we have already purchased the tickets for July,” Nakajima said. “They told me [that the] Tsuchiura students will host us even though they couldn’t come here.”
A joint relief effort between Palo Alto middle school students and Neighbors Abroad, Palo Alto’s official sister city organization, is currently in the works.
Ultimately, Nakajima maintains that, difficulties aside, Palo Alto and Tsuchiura are continuing to foster a closer bond.
“Despite of this catastrophic devastation, our relationship is getting tighter and closer,” she said.
Editor’s note: Alex Carter is a reporter for The Paly Voice.