Rocky students head to Japan for two weeks

“They have stuff like Rocky, that’s why we’re twinned,” says Hastings. “They have mountain and it’s a small community nestled in the mountains.”

The trip is 14 days long beginning in Tokyo and Kyoto where students will visit Studio Ghibli, Mount Fuji, and a robot themed restaurant.

The following week will be spent in Kamikawa, where the local middle school has the whole week planned out.

“We’re doing lots of cultural things, the Vice Principal likes to provide a cultural experience,” says Hastings. “We’re going to be taking Japanese calligraphy classes at their school.”

The program has been alive since the 1980s, with Japanese students visiting Rocky in the summer, and likewise.

“They actually have a Canada room in their school,” says Hastings. “Everything that they have has been brought over there since the 80’s. There’s even Boston pizza box and a co-op cracker box in there from Rocky.”

Hastings says although the trip is action packed, the students highlight is meeting the host families.

“The kids come back like different kids, their eyes have been opened to another culture. The most impactful part of the trip is the relationship with the families, they just love the time they spend with their Japanese Families, and they’re just treated like gold.”

The town, county and three local businesses have all donate $500 to the journey. In addition, the town donated $1500 to fund their trip to Mount Fuji.

The group will return to Rocky Mountain House on August 11.

by Jessie Weisner (Twitter: @Jessie__Weisner)

Rocky students head to Japan for two weeks

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