Photo By Sgt. Nicholas Ranum | Lance Cpl. Joshua D. Sasser plays games with students from the Asunaro Higashi Nursery...... read more read more
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NAGO, Okinawa - More than 60 students with the Asunaro Higashi Nursery School in Nago and 13 Marines participated in a cultural exchange Sept. 26 at the school.
The exchange allowed service members to spend time teaching English, playing with the kids, and building upon the friendship between the school and the Marines stationed at Camp Schwab.
“Originally (I thought I was) going to a school and teaching the kids English in a classroom type of a setting,” said Cpl. Hasani A. Ferraro, an assault amphibious vehicle mechanic with Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “When we got there I was surprised at the reception from the school. The children were excited to see us, and we spent the morning playing games and interacting with them.”
The goal of the event was to increase the interactions between the Marines and residents of their host nation by spending time with the children of the school.
“The students like it when the Marines come to the school,” said Azusa Higa, the head teacher for the school. “The first time the Marines came out, the students (didn’t know what to think) of them. Now that the Marines have been here six times, the children really enjoy the visits and look forward to playing with the Marines.”
Having the children interact with different cultures, specifically Marines, is difficult during the school year, according to Higa.
“We usually do not have a lot of time to interact with Americans,” said Higa. “This allows the students to meet and talk with Marines, and it is a very good experience for them to have as they grow older.”
The students were not the only participants to have a good time during the visit, according to Lance Cpl. Joshua D. Sasser, a maintenance management specialist with CAB.
“This was a great event, and I would recommend that people sign up for more,” said Sasser. “When you sign up for events like this you will have fun and make the kids happy too. That is what this event was about; making sure the children have a good time.”
A benefit of volunteering to help teach English is that the Marines also leave a favorable impression with the children, according to Ferarro.
“We want to interact with the children as much as possible to build (upon) that relationship we have with them,” said Ferraro. “You never know if you will see them again or what they will become in the future, so it is necessary to leave them with a good impression.
“Sometimes it is good to just get out and go somewhere where you can be humble and just bring a smile to a child’s face,” added Ferraro.
| Date Taken: | 09.26.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 10.10.2013 23:10 |
| Story ID: | 115053 |
| Location: | NAGO, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 71 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Marines, Okinawan children connect during visit, by Sgt Nicholas Ranum, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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