Three week Japan exchange trip opens up for MHS students

Emily Rassel, Reporter and Editor-In-Chief

Ever wanted to see the world? Experience life outside the boundaries of the United States? Eat exotic food, meet exotic people, and for three weeks, live a totally different life?

The Monroe International Friendship Association (MIFA), in conjunction with the City of Monroe, is offering a program to send students in Monroe County from grades 9-12 to Hofu City, Japan, Monroe’s Sister City.

For three weeks, from July 8 to July 31 during this summer, five students are able to stay with two different host families in Hofu, while five students come to Michigan.

Students interested in this program need only fill out an application, which can be found by googling MIFA or finding them on Facebook, and save up $2,300, the cost of an airplane ticket. Knowing how to speak Japanese is not required.

President of MIFA Kim Steve said that understanding other cultures is very important for young ambassadors of the next generation.

“We are proud to have been exchanging students since 1992 and to provide this unique educational and cultural opportunity to the high school students of Monroe County,” Kim Steve said.

2016 MHS graduate Alexa Steve said that she went on this trip during the summer of 2013. She has been involved with the program for her whole life, having hosted numerous students and, through that, made friends from around the globe.

When she went to Hofu, she said the food was amazing and she recommends that whoever goes should try everything there is to offer.

“One exception to the amazing food would be “uni” or sea urchin. I still recommend that you try it once, but it just wasn’t for me. The best food that I had was pufferfish; it was fantastic. I’ve also tried and liked eel, octopus, horse, squid and that’s to list a few,” Alexa Steve said.

The program has an itinerary set up to show students the culture and things surrounding Hofu including visiting schools, sight-seeing, Japanese tea ceremonies and much more.

“It impacted me a lot, and it was crazy how real it became. I knew the atomic bomb had a terrible effect on all of the people, but to see it firsthand was a real eye opener,” Alexa Steve said about visiting Hiroshima.

The deadline to submit the application is March 14, which includes an essay and references. The interviews will be held in March and April. If there are any questions about the program, information can be obtained by emailing Kim Steve at [email protected].