GILROY
– Japanese high school students are experiencing America via
Gilroy, as part of a cultural exchange between the garlic capital
of the world and its garlicky sister city half a world away.
By Lori Stuenkel
GILROY – Japanese high school students are experiencing America via Gilroy, as part of a cultural exchange between the garlic capital of the world and its garlicky sister city half a world away.
Fifteen students, along with two teachers, three chaperones and a Gilroy representative, traveled from Takko-Machi, Japan, Sunday to spend a week in California, staying with local families for much of the trip.
Mayor Al Pinheiro welcomed the group of mostly sophomores to Gilroy at City Hall Wednesday afternoon.
“I think it’s very, very important that we have this kind of exchange … because we can all learn from each other,” Pinheiro said. “We appreciate you being with us.”
Wendy Conrotto, the exchange program’s International Relations Coordinator, is in charge of arranging the exchange.
“The main thing is language and cultural sharing,” said Conrotto, a native Gilroyan who is in her fifth month as program coordinator.
The international exchange program between Gilroy and Takko-Machi, the garlic capital of Japan, has been in place for more than 15 years. Takko-Machi is in the southeast portion of Aomori, the northernmost Prefecture on the main island of Japan. Its population is 7,500 and it is located less than five hours from Tokyo via the famed bullet train.
Disneyland was the highlight of Yuko Sano’s trip so far, although she wanted to take in the cultural differences she saw all around her – for example, the fact that Americans often have toilets and bathtubs in the same room.
“I wanted to learn something that I can’t see in Japan,” Sano said through English teacher Kensei Murakami. “The difference in lifestyles.”
The Takko-Machi visitors arrived in Los Angeles Sunday and experienced Disneyland, San Francisco and San Jose before attending a welcoming party in Morgan Hill Tuesday evening. There, the visitors met with their host families.
“It’s a wonderful experience, the exchange of cultures and personal experiences is marvelous,” said Dave Peoples, who with wife Marianne has been active in the exchange program, often hosting Takko-Machi guests. The pair visited the town in October for its garlic and beef festival.
“By the time they leave … they’re really a part of the family,” Peoples said. “They leave, and there’s an ongoing communication between the home-stays and the (hosts).”
This time around, the Peoples are hosting English teacher Murakami, who they met during their trip to Japan. While Murakami speaks fluent English, Peoples said previous guests represented a wide range of English abilities.
“But it is still very, very rewarding to be able to have these people come, because they are just so gracious,” said Peoples, who is also a member of Gilroy’s Visitor’s Bureau Board.
Wednesday morning, the group visited downtown Gilroy, touring Old City Hall and visiting Peoples at his business, The Nimble Thimble at Garlic City Mercantile, 55 W. Sixth St. They also stopped by Luigi Aprea Elementary School classrooms, where they taught students origami, calligraphy and Japanese games.
After visiting with the mayor, the students were set to shop at the Gilroy Premium Outlets and experience a uniquely American institution: Costco, the nation’s largest wholesale-club chain.
“Costco’s going to be really interesting for them, I think,” Conrotto said with a smile. “In Japan, they have everything in small portions.”
Still, the students said they saw some similarities between their hometown and its sister city nearly six times its size.
“This town is very calm,” said Ryo Ito, through Murakami. Ito is vice president of Takko-Machi high school’s student council and acts as leader of the student group.
Ito said his trip to America would broaden his mind and stay with him for a lifetime.
Cultural exchange has its drawbacks, however. Some of the students were homesick Wednesday, and some felt nervous about making the 20-hour journey across the Pacific Ocean.
The nation’s high level of alert – orange, or “high” – delayed the group for about two hours at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday, Murakami said.
Conrotto, the program’s coordinator, is responsible for organizing several exchanges between Gilroy and Takko-Machi, including a trip made by the queen and president of the Gilroy Garlic Festival each year. Conrotto has a one-year contract, living in Takko-Machi and teaching English to kindergarten and elementary students. She also helps plan village events.
“The Takko people are very warm and friendly and very eager to share their culture and learn about another culture,” Conrotto said.
Conrotto graduated from Gilroy High School in 1997. She received her bachelor’s degree from California State University at Fresno and recently earned her teaching credential.
Takko-Machi is one of Gilroy’s four sister cities. Other international counterparts include Tecate, Baja California, Mexico; Saint Clar, France; and Monticelli d’Ongina, Italy.
If Pinheiro gets his way, a fourth will soon be added to the list – his hometown of Angra, Portugal. Pinheiro told the visitors he will bring his request before City Council later this month.
“I try to go back to Portugal once every year to keep my roots, but Gilroy is where I made my home, this is where I want my kids to live,” Pinheiro said.
Today, the Takko-Machi visitors will demonstrate origami and calligraphy for art students at GHS. Saturday will be spent with host families.
On Saturday night, the group will attend a “sayonara,” or good-bye, potluck before they return to Japan on Sunday.
