Eight junior high students from Takko-Machi, Japan, spent five
days touring California as part of their town’s sister city
relationship with Gilroy.
Eight junior high students from Takko-Machi, Japan, spent five days touring California as part of their town’s sister city relationship with Gilroy.
The students began their trip with a tour of Los Angeles and a stop at Universal Studios in Hollywood. While in Gilroy, they stayed with host families and toured several schools, the outlets and various local restaurants.
“I want to visit if I can afford it,” said Julia Fissel, 14, a freshman at Gilroy High School, of Takko-Machi. Fissel’s family hosted one of the Japanese students and she said she would be heartbroken when it came time to say good-bye.
“Any opportunity I can get to go to Japan, I’ll take it,” she said.
“It was a fantastic trip,” said Patrick Foley, coordinator for international relations in Takko-Machi. “It’s just been a whirlwind experience.”
