Connections
Japanese and American students share without a common language
By Janet Swigler, music teacher at Rosewood Elementary School

Diondra Conway, Shilah Monroe, and River McClelland learn the cat's cradle from a student visiting the US through Cultural Connections.

The fourth grade students shared the afternoon with a dozen elementary age students from Japan March 31, 2008. The Japanese students came to the United States for two weeks with the organization Cultural Connections to learn about our culture.

During the afternoon event, Rosewood students participated in such activities as origami, calligraphy, children's games, and trying on kimonos. The visiting students performed a traditional dance in the Yosakoi style. One of the biggest benefits of the day was the realization that much could be shared and communicated without sharing a common language.

Keiko, a Cultural Connection chaperone, Shilah Monroe, and River McClelland share a moment while trying on kimonos. Hadley McCollester models a kimono. Satoko-san, who assisted her, is from Nara, Japan.