Opinion: 54 Japanese Students Grateful for America's Help

"Tomodachi" is the Japanese word for friend and the motto of the 54 Japanese students visiting .

The students came on March 12 as part of a four-day international educational experience program by Hosho High School to get an insight into American culture and the school system.

Accompanied by two teachers, they prepared a PowerPoint presentation for the students of Great Oak about the tsunami that happened one year ago in Japan.

A gigantic wave inundated approximately 217 square miles of their homeland on March 11, 2011. Thousands of people died and lost their homes.

The 54 student ambassador guides from Great Oak and the Japanese students sat together in the gym and watched the presentation.

As the pictures of destruction and catastrophe were shown to the crowd, the students grew silent.

“We express our sincere gratitude to the American people”, Mr. Kishigami, the Japanese teacher said.

While showing the Operation Tomodachi stickers of the U.S. forces, he announced, “This is expressing the friendship of the United States and Japan."

After the tsunami hit Japan, the US donated money to help the people and sent troops to support the Japanese military.

The 54 students accompanied their host sisters and brothers to school and participate in class with the help of the high school’s counseling secretary, Mrs. Paula Shilts, and the team of ERDT/SHARE, an organization that secured 27 host families within the school.

"The parents showed a big interest in opening their homes to the Japanese," Shilts said. Great Oaks are set to open their doors to students from Spain in April, and the school has an exchange program with Korea.

After exchanging their gifts the students had to say their goodbyes, having gained an unique experience of friendship beyond cultural borders.