2024 Walla Walla Sister City Project ④

Well, on the last day of the three-day weekend, today is the day of the welcome party. It was a potluck gathering, a casual get-together. This was also the first opportunity for all the host families and the visiting delegation to gather together after their arrival!

So, what happened at our place? In the morning, we heard that his host family from last year was selling lemonade to support pediatric cancer efforts, so we decided to lend a small hand. For more details about the support, please check here (only in Japanese).

The venue was at  'Sue-no-Sato,' in Konda known for its Tamba pottery. Since there was a pottery festival, quite a few people attended. I recognized the family from last year's orientation, so it was nice to catch up with them after a year.

After buying lemonade and black soybean bread, we headed to the potluck party venue… 🚗 But first, we stopped by a supermarket to pick up a dish to contribute. For those familiar with the area, there's quite a distance from Tachikui to the venue in Okumo. To put it roughly, it's about a 40-minute drive from the southwest edge to the northeast edge. In total, it takes almost two hours from our home. Quite a way! 😅

At the venue, there were many host families and children, and the visiting high school students seemed excited to see their friends again after a seeming long time (maybe it was the first time since arriving).

I participated as a translator for the facilitator. Everyone's potluck contributions looked delicious. There were homemade sweets, savory dishes, and even chestnut mochi from a famous wagashi (Japanese sweets) shop in the city! After chatting, we all played a bingo game. Everyone got some kind of prize! 😆

The visiting high school students are probably around 15 years old on average. For some, being away from home for the first time and spending time with unfamiliar host families might be quite challenging. I heard that there were a few students feeling homesick… Hang in there! Have fun and enjoy your time here!

After returning home, we had another welcome party for adults at a local Japanese restaurant. It was a relaxed and delicious gathering, filled with laughter, good food, and great conversation.

So, that was another wonderful long day.