Exchange looks to rate well

Marisa O’Neil

Japanese and American flags, balloons, big hugs and lots of

picture-taking welcomed seven visitors from Newport Beach Sister

City, Okazaki, Japan.

In front of the main library Wednesday afternoon, Corona del Mar

High School teacher Julie Obluk and five Newport Beach students who

visited Okazaki this summer reunited with the students and chaperons

from their trip. Obluk held a white sign with carefully lettered

Japanese characters on it to help make the visitors feel at home.

“I had a former student from Japan write it,” she explained. “It

says: ‘Welcome to Newport Beach, Okazaki visitors.’”

The delegation of five students and two chaperons will have a role

reversal of the summer visit. They will stay with the families of the

students they hosted in July. The visitors will be here until

Tuesday.

The Japanese students will face some culture shock, like their

American counterparts did in Okazaki, the local students said.

“The school system there is totally different,” 14-year-old

Newport Harbor High School student Heather Curfman said. “Everyone

stays inside the whole day, and the teachers rotate.”

When Heather’s guest, 15-year-old Chihiro Horikawa, visits classes

at Corona del Mar High School with the other students, she’ll see a

very different type of school. But one of Chihiro’s top priorities

while she’s here -- as well as for the other students -- is a trip to

Disneyland.

While they’re here, the delegation will meet with city and school

district officials, tour different schools and attend numerous

parties, receptions and barbecues. They’ll also have a day of hiking,

boating and kayaking hosted by the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa.

Individual host families also have special plans, such as baseball

games and shopping.

“Between South Coast Plaza, Fashion Island, Disneyland and the

beach, they’re getting the best of Southern California,” host-parent

Debby Gaal said with a laugh.

Gaal and her stepdaughter, 14-year-old Megan Gaal, will be hosting

15-year-old Ai Hasada.

Things might be a little tough for Ai, Megan said, because so few

people here speak Japanese. When she was in Okazaki, Megan was able

to communicate through Ai’s mother, who speaks some English.

Okazaki is an industrial town northeast of Tokyo, said Roger

McGonegal, past president of the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa and

member of the Newport Beach Sister City Assn. This is the 21st year

the city has had exchanges.

In November, an adult delegation, including Okazaki Mayor Koich

Shibata, will visit Newport Beach.