Chelsea State Bank ad

Exchange students from Shimizu, Japan, visit Beach Middle School

Students are welcomed to Beach Middle School.
Students from Shimizu, Japan are welcomed to Beach Middle School.

Japanese students visit Timbertown.

(Chelsea Update would like to thank Christine Frayer and Rose Soriano for the information and photos in this story.)

Seven female students and two chaperons from Shimizu visited Chelsea during the Chelsea-Shimizu exchange program for 7th and 8th grade students.  They were in the city from March 27-April 2.

Rose Soriano, a Beach Middle School 8th grader, hosted a Japanese student, and wrote the article below.

The Chelsea-Shimizu Sister Cities exchange program has been going on for about 20 years and it truly is an experience that is unforgettable.

Toward the end of June and into July, Chelsea students travel to Japan and tour major cities and visit a

small town that is similar to our own town of Chelsea. To be eligible to go on the trip, you must be in seventh or eighth grade, and a student at Beach Middle School.

Not only do the Chelsea students visit Shimizu, but the Shimizu students come to visit Chelsea from late March to early April. Their student age-range to go on the trip is from seventh to ninth grade.

I was fortunate enough to be able to go to Shimizu, Japan as a seventh grader in 2013. The people I met there were amazing. They were very kind and hospitable. The Chelsea students stayed in Japan for 12 days, for six days we were in Shimizu.

Visiting Japanese students visit U-M.
Visiting Japanese students visit U-M.

Before going to our sister city, we toured Hiroshima and Kyoto. When we arrived in Shimizu, I was very amazed with how alike the two towns were. Shimizu even had a clock tower. We were all sad to leave the people who treated us like family. I was comforted by the thought that our family was hosting one of the Shimizu students when they came to visit the United States in March of this year.

When the day finally came in March when the students from Japan came, my friends and I could barely contain ourselves. Seeing the people that we haven’t seen for nine months was a great feeling to have. Before the Shimizu students visited Chelsea, they spent a few days in New York City. When they came to Chelsea they visited Ann Arbor, and took a tour of the U of M stadium.

They also took a tour of Chelsea, spent the night at the Howell Nature Center, and spent half the day at Beach Middle School with their host sister or brother.

After the six days they spent with us in Chelsea, we all became very close and it was very hard to see them go. We all made plans to keep in contact.

We would like to say a big thank you to all of the businesses and organizations for supporting the travelers of 2013 and 2014.

Seven Chelsea students and two chaperons are scheduled to visit Japan in June.

Courtesy photo. Japanese students say good-bye to their new American friends at Beach Middle School.
Courtesy photo. Japanese students say good-bye to their new American friends at Beach Middle School.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

More News

In Photos by Burrill Strong: Chelsea Football’s 28-18 Win Over Adrian

September 25, 2023

In Photos by Alan Ashley: Chelsea Drops Adrian in Football, 28-18

September 25, 2023

Chelsea Boys Cross Country Third in Cougar Falcon Invite

September 25, 2023

Sept. 27: Chelsea Marching Band Exhibition

September 25, 2023

Chelsea City Notice: Public Accuracy Test for November Election

September 25, 2023

Sept. 25: What’s on the Chelsea Board of Education Work Session Agenda

September 25, 2023

Recent Obituary: Norma Ann (Sell) Seyfried

September 25, 2023

Chelsea’s September Students of the Month Recognized

September 24, 2023

Adult Learners Announces its October Classes

September 24, 2023

Washtenaw County Road Commission Weekly Road Work Projects

September 24, 2023

Sept. 30: Gyro Dinner Drive-Thu

September 24, 2023

No City Meetings Scheduled This Week

September 24, 2023

Chelsea City Council Candidate Forum

September 23, 2023

Chelsea Kiwanis Hears from Ballet Chelsea Representatives

September 23, 2023

Sept. 30: Backyard Beer Garden in Palmer Commons

September 23, 2023

Oct. 8: Pioneer Day at Waterloo Farm Museum and Dewey School

September 23, 2023

Meet New Assistant Principals Andrea Franco and Adam Schilt

September 22, 2023

Sept. 23: First Saturday Chelsea Farmers Market of Fall

September 22, 2023

Beach Middle School Gold Volleyball Takes on Dexter

September 22, 2023

Two Scrapbooking Weekends Upcoming in Chelsea

September 22, 2023

Opioid Deaths, Non-Opioid Drug Overdose Deaths Continue to Increase

September 22, 2023