Students plug their ears in anticipation for a loud pop that sounded after Vince Hilderbrand mixed two chemicals together in a science activity at Kawahigashi Junior High School. Students go to school year-round. “They are very driven to succeed,” Kevin Beeler commented. “There are no discipline problems.”

How does one absorb a different diet, culture, language, geography within eight days? The answer: Not possible.
But the Clark Middle School students who visited Japan had a good start when they visited that island nation from July 3 to 11.

They tasted an ancient culture that is at least 1,300 years old. Japan reportedly had an advanced civilization by 700 A.D.

During their stay with host families in the city of Aizu-Wakamatsu (north of Tokyo), the American students attended school, celebrated a festival with fireworks, wore kimonos, practiced archery, played native musical instruments, and experienced a minor earthquake (The earthquake measured 3.4 magnitude, and caused no damage. Minor tremors are common in Japan, and the locals were not alarmed by it.)

The impressions they brought home were of the people’s friendliness, consideration for others, self-discipline, cleanliness, concern for the environment, and harmony with one another. “I never saw anyone fighting or arguing,” Delaney Russell commented.

“It was a trip of a lifetime. And we could not have gone without the support of the community,” Clark Middle School Principal Kevin Beeler emphasized. Some $24,000 was raised locally by the 10 students and four chaperones: Kirby Schoephoerster, Lucy and Abigail Beeler, Hayleigh Brunkhorst, Taylor Rice, Zach Cook, Delaney Russell, Thomas Waggoner, Sam Miller, Vince Hilderbrand, Kevin Beeler, Dori Waggoner, Sue Miller and Dr. Paul Schoephoerster.

Throughout the year, they raked leaves, washed windows, sold pork steak dinners and performed other fundraising activities. In addition, private donations were received.

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