Memorable dinner caps Japanese students' visit
BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer

MARLBORO - The bonds of friendship are quickly formed and could be seen at the Sayonara Dinner that was held for Japanese students who recently spent a week experiencing American culture with their host families in Marlboro.

The Aug. 23 dinner was held to celebrate the final night in Marlboro for the 13 youths and four chaperones who arrived on Aug. 17 as part of the Marlboro-Nanto Student Exchange Program. Held at the Battleground Country Club, Manalapan, the children sat down for one last dinner with their American families.

The Japanese children were clothed in traditional Japanese attire and the exchange of cultures was evident when guests addressed the children using Japanese phrases and bowed in greeting.

Councilman Joseph Pernice, who is the Township Council's liaison to the exchange program committee, opened the event by thanking all of the people who helped to work on the student exchange.

The work included raising money that was used to help offset the costs of the Japanese students' trip to the United States. The fundraisers included selling New York Yankees tickets, bagging groceries in ShopRite and selling water at Marlboro's summer concerts.

The Marlboro Improvement and Cultural Fund also provides funding and Richard Previte and Jack Williams were thanked for their efforts in that regard.

Katsuji Nakada, a Nanto City councilman and group leader for the Nanto students, addressed the guests with the help of a translator. Nakada thanked the citizens of Marlboro for welcoming the group to their community.

"You are wonderful," he said in

Japanese.

He continued by commenting on how the Japanese in the United States before

and were nervous,

but after a few days in

the homes of their host

families they gained confidence.

The youths spent a week with a host family and experienced what life is like in an American family. The host families usually have children who are close in age to the exchange students.

Nakada also said the children had planted a seed of peace which will grow. He continued by saying that the citizens of Nanto will be looking forward to reciprocating Marlboro's hospitality next year when Marlboro teens venture to Japan.

Mayor Robert Kleinberg apologized to the Japanese students for the rainy weather during their time in Marlboro.

He said he hoped they had a wonderful time and welcomed them all back in the future. He also announced that next summer he and his family would be traveling to Nanto City.

He discussed the friendships that had formed in such a short time and predicted that the students' departure on Aug. 24 would be a time of tears.

Pernice presented the students with a certificate of commendation from the state Legislature that was prepared by Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck.

The Japanese teens also received a backpack with Marlboro-Nanto embroidered on it. One student was unable to make the trip so an extra backpack was provided for him.

Traditional Japanese hats were presented to the hosts from the students.

Expressing their thanks to their hosts, in sometimes halting English, the students had a variety of moments they picked as their favorites.

One young lady enjoyed shopping and visiting department stores. Quite a few of the visitors enjoyed their time at Six Flags Great Adventure. One young man expressed surprise at how many rooms the houses in Marlboro had.

The thing that all agreed on was that they had a wonderful time and some "impressive adventures" in Marlboro.

This year's students were treated to a welcome luncheon, a Lakewood Blue- Claws baseball game, a tour of the Marlboro Memorial Middle School with Superintendent of Schools David Abbott, leisure time at the Marlboro Swim Club, and trips to Philadelphia and New York City.

Preparation for a traditional regional dance took a little while for the students to prepare for. To fill time, Kleinberg took requests and sang a bit for the audience. This led to a bit of a sing-along with other Marlboro residents standing up to sing numbers including "Getting to Know You" from "The King and I" and "I'll Be There for You," the theme song from "Friends."

The students then took to the dance floor and their proud host parents took pictures to remember their Japanese children. At the end of their performance the children asked everyone to join them in singing The Beatles' "Hello, Goodbye."

With the room full of people humming Paul McCartney's lyrics it was obvious how close the group had become.

Kyusuke Matsumoto, the group deputy leader of Nanto, and Pernice ended the evening by toasting the night.

Although the students would be leaving the following day, words of reassurance were given that they would never be forgotten.

Linda Sansone, who is the mayor's assistant, recalled how a boy she hosted years ago had returned to the United States and paid a visit to her family.

The partnership between Marlboro and Nanto has been in existence for 17 years. Previous articles published reported that in 2000, trees were planted in Marlboro and Nanto as a celebration of the sister city agreement's 10th anniversary.