Lima area students heading to Japan

LIMA — The Lima Sister Cities Association was formed in 1995. The youth home-stays began every other year in 2001. Now after the pandemic, the youth trips are scheduled to begin again in the summer of 2023.

Several students have been selected for the cultural experience in the coming summer.

Ayrianna Allen is looking forward to the trip. “I’ve been interested in Japan for so long. I think it will be a good opportunity to travel. I thought it would be a great way to bond with another culture.”

Gage Edwards has been studying Japanese for almost five years. ” My parents believed it would be a good idea for me to go to Japan and see it in person.” Edwards wants to be a mechanical engineer. “Japan is one of the most industrialized countries in the world. So I believe that having a background in Japanese and having gone to Japan will serve a great purpose in my future career. There’s so much there, so much that’s really cool.”

Prior to the trip, the student delegates and their parents will be required to participate in several group orientations to acclimate them to the Japanese culture and customs. The students will experience all phases of Japanese life during their two-week visit. They will participate in Japanese traditions, attend Japanese schools, stay in a Japanese home, and share American culture with their new Japanese friends.

They will also visit some famous and historical sites. Past examples include the ancient Buddhist Monastery at Koya-san, the Hiroshima Atom Bomb Museum, Miyajima Island and the Kyoto “Eiga Mura” Movie Theme Park.

Student delegates will be expected to actively participate with LSCA cultural and fundraising events prior to and after the trip. Upon their return to Lima, the Youth Exchange delegates will be expected to write and speak about their experiences for school and community events.

A Purse Extravaganza will be held at the Delphos Eagles on February 18 to raise funds for the youth home-stays. To reserve a table go to www.LSCAPurse.com.

Reach Dean Brown at 567-242-0409

Dean Brown
Dean Brown joined The Lima News in 2022 as a reporter. Prior to The Lima News, Brown was an English teacher in Allen County for 38 years, with stops at Perry, Shawnee, Spencerville and Heir Force Community School. So they figured he could throw a few sentences together about education and business in the area. An award-winning photographer, Brown likes watching old black and white movies, his dog, his wife and kids, and the four grandkids - not necessarily in that order. Reach him at [email protected] or 567-242-0409.