For three lucky Gibson Southern students, they are about to experience life far beyond the borders of Gibson County. Freshmen Elijah Ortiz and Grant Arbuckle and junior Ragen Wolak were selected to take part in the Gibson County Economic Development Corporation’s exchange program with its “friendship city,” Tahara City, Japan. Gibson Southern computer teacher Ryan Osborn will also partake in the visit. The exchange takes place from June 1 through the 11.
The itinerary for the exchange is full of things for the Gibson County students to see and do. The group will go to Hiroshima the first two days, then stay with a host family in Tahara for five days and spend the final two days in Tokyo.
There were several applicants for this once in a lifetime experience, and applying was not something that could be done in one night.
“To apply for this trip, I had to write a minimum 350-word essay, mine ended up being about 450, and I had to get two letters of recommendation from teachers and one from a person of my choosing,” Wolak said. “I got recommendation letters from Ms. Toth, Mrs. Davis and one of my managers.”
There are many things to see in Tokyo. It is a whole different place, a different culture, a different language and different types of foods to try. The students are excited to see a lot of different stuff, try various food and see famous landmarks.
“I’m excited for all the new experiences with the culture and just being able to visit a different country,” Ortiz said.
The students will stay in a hotel to start and then live with host families while they spend ten days in Japan. The host families provide guests a better idea of what it is like to live in Japan, from rituals to fun activities that they take part in everyday.
Japan is a completely different experience from what life is like in Gibson County. Being exposed to the new culture, travelers hope to learn things they can bring back to their community and school.
“What I’m most excited about this trip is experiencing a culture almost polar opposite to the one I’ve known all of my life,” freshman Arbuckle said.
Arbuckle, Ortiz and Wolak are not the only Gibson County students participating in this cultural exchange. Students from Princeton Community High School and Wood Memorial High School are also traveling.
The Gibson County Economic Development Corporation will send its next group of exchange students in 2028.
