Japanese Teen Keeps Warren Center Ties, Attends BCC

By Jill Darling

One by one the 16-year-old Japanese girls started crying until the entire room was filled with sobs. The girls were so enamored with their American host families that they didn't want to leave. The families were stunned that a mere weekend visit would make such a deep impression and were taken aback by the display

In April of 1998, a group of Japanese girls toured parts of the United States on a ten-day vacation from Baikou Christian High School in Yamaguchi. One stop was Owego where they met with area host families for the weekend Megumi (MAY-gummi). Sasaki stayed with our family in Warren Center, Pennsylvania, and within three days had hopes of returning to the area to attend college in the future. This past summer her dream became a reality and she is now a student at Broome Community College.

Meg, as she prefers to be called in America, with her outgoing personality and our family hit it off from the start, especially since she spoke such good English. We batted around the Japanese paper blow-up balls she brought and learned how to fold colored origami papers into cranes and flowers.

The girls toured our neighbor Jerry Abell's sheep farm and were amazed at the expanse of "big nature" we have here in the New York/Pennsylvania area. She noticed how much sweeter our American desserts are and traveled home with a supply of Pennsylvania maple products from Dewy Meadows Maples, plus her favorite, chocolate candy. She really liked the Christian books and music tapes we had given her, which contributed to her study of English

The three days sped by and the girls boarded the bus for their next stop in New York City, then Washington, D.C., before departing home. Meg, through her tears and hugs, said she would return someday.

In August of 1999, she and her parents stayed with us for several days. The Sasakis wanted to scout out the area, visit colleges and attend our church, Faith Christian Fellowship in Apalachin, which Meg had really enjoyed on her previous visit. We packed a lot into those few days, including a day trip to Niagara Falls.

Meg moved to the area last May to begin her studies at BCC. She loves the college and is interested in pursuing drama therapy and music; she's also taking advanced English as a Second Language classes. Her English has greatly improved since she's been immersed in the language, and she is has no trouble understanding her instructors.

Meg recently told me why the group of girls was crying upon their departure from Owego. In Japan, there is intense pressure to perform and such high expectations that experiencing the relaxed freedom in America and the love shown by their host families was overwhelming. It really made an impact on them.

Before meeting Meg, I had listened to a cassette tape on Japanese culture and customs The Japanese keep more distance between them when greeting one another with a slight bow and while they converse Americans tend to be closer in proximity Meg and I had exchanged letters and pictures beforehand and were mutually excited about her visit. When we first met I shook her hand, nodded politely and kept my distance. Then I could no longer contain myself and gave her a great big hug! She was surprised at my display and I was stunned to have committed a cultural gaffe right from the start. We both laughed

We've talked candidly since then and she's observed how "Americans are more open in getting to know people and making them feel comfortable They are more expressive in showing their feelings and giving affection Japanese are more formal and hide their feelings and don't express themselves openly."

Meg mentioned that she was transformed by the expressions of God's love exhibited by all the people she met and said, "Something happened in my heart. I knew my parents loved me but I could never receive it very well. I became more open with my feelings and could receive love and give love more easily." She said her father also experienced a change of heart after his visit here. "I am a different girl here in America than in Japan--more happy and carefree," she said.