Did you know the journey from Kyoto to Modesto is approximately 5,427 miles?
That is the distance 250 students fly to wind up at various schools across Stanislaus County, including three MCS high schools: Beyer, Enochs, and Gregori.
For just under a week, Kyoto University of Advanced Science (KUAS) Senior and Junior High School students stay with selected host families as part of the KUAS Student Program. This Stanislaus County exchange program has existed for more than 30 years.
Gregori High Principal Phillip Jaramillo said the students form bonds with each other despite the visit being brief.
“When the students come to the school after the weekend with their host family, there’s always tears and hugs as they depart,” he said.
This unique exchange program offers an opportunity to build relationships that will last a lifetime.
“These are lifelong bonds—my daughter, who has since graduated college, still keeps in touch with one of our exchange students we hosted years ago,” Jaramillo added.
To travel, KUSA students must maintain a high-grade point average, be in good standing, and be willing to travel. The students' parents are highly involved in their studies and cover the travel expenses for their study-abroad opportunities, which is in addition to the cost of tuition, as KUSA is a private institution.
Linda Cooper, a community member formerly of the Ceres Unified School District, has led the coordination of this program since 1992 and has seen thousands of students come to America for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The KUAS has a robust international studies curriculum beyond the United States as well.
“Some of their students also travel to Canada, the UK, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Italy, and this year to Zambia in Africa during their junior and senior year,” Cooper said.
Throughout her time overseeing these visits, Cooper said she has developed an excellent relationship with the KUAS administrators and loves seeing their enthusiasm during these five days in October.
During their short trip, the Japanese students have a packed agenda full of visits that educate them about the Central Valley’s rich agricultural industry and the science behind it. Students tour Modesto Junior College (MJC) West, MJC East, Diamond Bar Ranch, and Stewart & Jasper Orchards.
While at MJC East, they visited the plant science building. At MJC West, they visited the animal science department. Over at Diamond Bar, the company provides a hamburger barbeque and takes them out to see how the ranch operates, how to compost the soil — even how worms are helpful in the process — and more.
Finally, at Stewart & Jasper, they see how they process our legendary Central Valley almonds. A trip to the Great Valley Museum and a potential cannery tour are in the works for next year. Principal Kohei Sasai from KUAS was thrilled about the quality of the tomatoes grown in the Central Valley.
After all the visits, they spent a day in the classroom with their American peers, which included a special assembly in their honor.
MCS is thankful to everyone who made the journey to visit us and our host families, and we are excited to see what next year brings.
Arigatô, KUAS!
