Japanese exchange student learns about school in the states
Posted 2/6/03

At 17 years of age, Remi Schibata has left her home of 1.3 million people in Japan to attend school in Milaca - population 2,580.

Schibata is a foreign exchange student attending her junior year at Milaca High School.

"I was nervous when I said to them I wanted to come here," Schibata says of telling her parents of her wish.

"But they were okay. They said, ëYou have a dream, so you should go.í"

Schibata added, "I have wanted to come to the United States since I entered my high school."

She came across an organization called EF Foundation, which specializes in exchange programs and has locations in Japan, the United States, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.

Schibata is staying with her host family in Princeton, Brenda Baker, and Bakerís son Shan, who also attends Milaca High School.

"I think she has come a long way with her language," Baker said. "It was very limited and brief, and her grammar was mixed up. But, sheís very dedicated to learning the language and she really puts her school work first."

Schibata arrived in the states in August and is still adjusting to the colder temperatures. In Kyoto, it only snows in January and February and doesnít get near as frigid as it does in Minnesota.

But, she pointed out they donít have heaters in their schools, so the classrooms in Japan are quite chilly in the winter.

The weather, of course, is one of the main questions sheís asked about by fellow students. Not only how sheís handling it here, but what itís like in Japan.

Students also want to know if sheís Chinese or Japanese, which she finds rather strange.

Other topics of interest for the Milaca students are what the food is like overseas. Schibata said she was surprised that the food was so similar, though she admits itís more "oily" here.

And, of course, the local teenagers want to know how to say "naughty" words in Japanese.

Does she tell them? Schibata just covers her mouth with her hands and giggles.

Though school is a little different in Kyoto, Japan than Milaca, Minn., teenagers are pretty much the same.

She enjoys going to the movies (which she says is half the price here in the states as Japan), buying clothes, hanging out with friends, and playing sports (she was in gymnastics for 10 years).

She also loves Snoopy. So, a trip to the Mall of America was just up her alley - clothes and Camp Snoopy.

In Japan, one of Schibataís current interests is participating in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

Schibata says the Japanese people donít celebrate Christmas quite like the Americans do. Christmas is more a holiday for couples in Japan. And though they donít exchange gifts, parents will buy some for their children.

But this year, Schibata decided to participate in the American tradition and ship home some Christmas gifts, which she says was quite a surprise for her family.

She, too, received gifts from her host family, including a Snoopy sweater.

New Yearís Day is the most important holiday in Japan, according to Schibata.

She enjoys her schooling in Milaca, but Schibata prefers the stability of the Japanese system.

In Kyoto, the same students are together for all their classes, all day, all three years of high school.

"Iím meeting a lot more people here," she said.

She also said she likes having to wear a school uniform in Japan, but admits sheís having fun buying clothes in America.

It was only about four or five years ago when Schibata began learning English. Now, she says she wishes she would have started sooner.

Communicating with fellow students and teachers is a little harder than she expected, mostly because Americans speak too fast, she says. But, sheís quick to say her friends here are very kind and speak slowly for her.

So, itís no surprise that Schibataís taking English as one of her subjects at MHS, along with American history, world history, algebra and sociology. Sheís also taking gym and pottery to round out her studies.

She learned to play football in gym, which she says was "scary" because the boys took it so seriously. Japan doesnít have football or hockey, but they do play soccer, volleyball, basketball and baseball.

There are American recreational sports that she wants to explore, such as snowmobiling.

She enjoys seeing the lakes freeze, but you probably wonít find Schibata walking on the ice to try fishing, based on the face she made when asked about that type of adventure.

The biggest challenge sheís faced since being in the states, is missing friends and family. She hasnít called her family because she says itíll make her miss them more hearing their voices. But, she does email and write to them often.

She recently changed host families here in Minnesota. Baker has a new job in Minneapolis so Schibata is now staying in Pease with Jim and Sylvia Kosloski.

"Itís very hard - for her and us," Baker said of the move. "But, sheís feeling much more comfortable about it and has made a lot of friends in Milaca."

The other challenge for Schibata is not being able to get around as easily as she could in Japan.

Though in Japan she wonít get her driverís license until sheís 18, transportationís more readily available in a large city like Kyoto. So, access to malls, movies and restaurants is much easier in Japan than it is in rural Minnesota.

Unsure if sheíll attend a college (a two-year program) or a university (a four-year program), Schibata does know sheíd like to continue her studies in English.

In June, Schibata will return to Japan where she will complete her final year in high school and where sheíll be with her family and friends once again.

But, for now, she says, "I am glad that I am here!"

Baker said she feels itís a good experience for families to have a foreign exchange student.

"It teaches your children a lot about different cultures and traditions," Baker said. "I think more people should give it a try. I havenít regretted it for a second.

"Sheís a very kind-hearted person. Sheís been a joy to have in our home."