The exchange started on Friday with a group from Berkeley greeting the students and their chaperones at the San Francisco airport and bringing them back to the Komendant’s house where they had a pizza lunch to meet and go home with their host families. Saturday was our visit to San Francisco, riding the waves on the ferry and spending the day at the Exploratorium with some time at Coit Tower as well. On Sunday the group got together with the Girl Scouts at the McCullough’s house for a BBQ and Pool party. We were treated to singing and dancing arranged by the Sakai Girl Scouts, an impromptu karate demonstration, and other exciting activities.
Monday was a host family day where the Berkeley hosts took their students to places showing off the Bay Area and shopping! That evening we watched the A’s and Giants in the Battle of the Bay. Tuesday we met with Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin, visited the stone lantern and cherry tree which represent the Sister City relationship from its beginning to the present, and toured UC Berkeley including the East Asian Library exhibit on ancient Sakai. Wednesday we said farewell to our guests at Jupiter over lunch where they headed to San Francisco for 3 days and then back to Sakai.
