For some Ames middle school students, next week will be a chance to travel out of the country and experience a new culture with a host family.
The students are part of a one-week trip to Ames’ sister city, Koshu, Japan. Three adults and 17 students will be on a 12-hour flight to Tokyo for the night, then heading west toward Koshu, which is north of Mount Fuji.
By stepping out of their comfort zones and immersing themselves in a new culture, students can gain experiences and friendships with people of their age in a different part of the world.
“Some of the most meaningful moments often come from everyday interactions with host families and fellow students. It’s an opportunity to gain confidence through new experiences,” said chaperone Eric Smidt.
A volunteer committee from the Ames International Partner Cities Association (AIPCA) helped organize the June 29-to-July 6 trip, and a delegation from Koshu is set to visit Ames in the fall. Mirroring the upcoming summer trip and including students from Koshu in Iowa allows families in Ames to experience a new culture while sharing their own.
With an itinerary developed by AIPCA, partners in Koshu and host families, planned activities include visiting schools, sightseeing in nature and exploring cities.
“A key component of the experience is staying with host families, which allows students to experience life beyond what a typical tourist would see,” said Smidt, who is also vice president of marketing and communications at AREA, an AIPCA partner in helping organize the summer trip.
Students can expect planned activities: they will participate in a traditional tea ceremony at the Erinji Temple in Koshu, and during a stop in Tokyo, they will see the famous Tokyo Skytree — the third-tallest structure in the world.
‘Use all your senses’
“When visiting a new place, it’s important to participate as much as you can when invited to. Don’t be a bystander. Embrace new experiences. Use all your senses at your disposal,” said Laura Hansen, treasurer of AIPCA.
The primary goals of the student exchanges are to encourage cultural understanding, broaden perspectives and foster friendships. By experiencing daily life in another country, students understand traditions and customs.
“Ultimately, the program helps students realize that while the world is large, meaningful personal connections can make it feel much smaller and more connected,” Smidt said.
During this experience, students will be able to identify both similarities and differences based on the environment and community.
“As interconnected as the world is today, experiences like this cannot be replaced digitally. This is a truly unique opportunity for students, giving them the chance to step outside of their daily environment and fully immerse themselves in another culture,” Smidt said.
Travel aboard fosters student learning
With programs like this, students have the opportunity to be curious and develop cultural awareness. It also allows the ability to communicate with people of different backgrounds and learn personal and professional skills early on.
“At a time when it’s easy to stay within your own bubble, these experiences foster curiosity, understanding and a more global mindset,” Smidt said.
Traveling abroad can be a lot for middle school students, but also a reminder that there are many different ways of living and experiencing community.
“For students from Iowa, experiencing a culture that is different from their own helps broaden their perspective and challenges any assumptions they may not even realize they have,” Smidt said.
Beyond cultural differences, students will learn to develop independence, confidence and strong communication skills that will benefit them.
“The memories, relationships, and perspective gained through international travel often shape how young people approach future educational, professional and personal opportunities,” Smidt said.
This fall, 20 Koshu students will visit Ames, and they need more host students, Hansen said. Those interested in hosting can fill out an application on the city of Ames website.
