TOMODACHI-Callisburg Delegation to Kesennuma & Japan America Grassroots Summit 2013

From July 1 – 11, 2013, thirteen students and chaperones from Callisburg, Texas participated in the TOMODACHI-Callisburg 23rd Japan-America Grassroots Summit 2013 in Shimane, Japan and experienced homestays, a visit to a local high school, and other cultural activities.  After the Summit, the group visited Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture for a reunion with the local students who had visited Callisburg in 2012 for the Grassroots Summit in North Texas.

The U.S. students and chaperones departed Japan on an American Airlines flight to return to Callisburg on July 11.  Before departure, everyone gathered in the American Airlines conference room inside Narita airport where the TOMODACHI interns gave a presentation and talked to the students about their experiences in Japan.  

American Airlines planned a spectacular send-off with a special TOMODACHI banner at a designated check-in counter, TOMODACHI and AA logo cookies, and goodie bags. The students and chaperones had big smiles as they boarded their flight to return to the United States, vowing to come back to visit Japan again someday. 

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