Last week, Saipan Mayor RB Camacho recently hosted 12 students and 1 chaperone from the KSKK International Youth Exchange Association Group from Japan for a one week visit to Saipan. The students stayed with host families and took part in various activities and events with an emphasis on education and cultural exchange.
The students visited several historical sites on island such as Banzai Cliff, Suicide Cliff, the CNMI Museum, as well the Last Command Post. Cultural exchange was a major theme of the program so the students paid a visit to the Manamko Center where they performed for and interacted with our local manamko introducing them to Japanese culture. 500 Sails CNMI also hosted the students at their boathouse in Lower Base where they demonstrated the canoe making process. They also explained the history behind the canoes and what each one meant. At the Joeten Kiyu Public Library the students were given a tour of the facility by library staff who also engaged the students in a variety of creative activities such as making your own ice cream, button making, and more fun activities. Aside from learning about the island, the kids also took time to enjoy the recreational amenities of Saipan like the Saipan World Resort Wave Jungle and World Restaurant. On the last day, the students and their host families were treated to a farewell
dinner hosted by the Saipan Mayor’s Office where they had the chance to sample local delicacies like BBQ, red rice, chicken kelaguen, and other dishes. Mayor Camacho and the CNMI Youth Congress then handed out certificates of appreciation to each of the students. He encouraged the kids to come back anytime and encourage their family and friends to visit Saipan. Mayor Camacho expressed his desire to see these exchange programs continue on a more frequent basis with even more groups participating. The mayor believes these types of programs are beneficial in establishing close ties with our neighboring countries. The students were very grateful for the opportunity and each of them individually gave their thanks and gave some good words. 21-year-old Nao Saito who was students’ chaperone on the trip remarked “We will never forget this wonderful experience. I love Saipan!”
For any questions or more information, please contact the Saipan Mayor’s office at (670) 234-6208. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Saipan Mayor’s office is also open through lunch.