Locals ready to leave for Suzuka, Japan
A contingent of nearly 20 local residents will embark this weekend on a trip around the globe that will begin a series of cultural exchanges planned to mark the 25th anniversary of the friendship city pact with Suzuka, Japan.
Local youths who will travel to Suzuka, Japan, as part of the cultural exchange to mark the 25th anniversary of the two municipalities’ friendship city pact practice a presentation that will include an O-H-I-O cheer. They are, from left, Joshua Welch, Aden Downing, Rachel Walker, Ethan Bodnarik, Laney Mitchell, Omar Bodnarik and Jay Robinson. Symone Daniels was not at the Sunday evening practice. (EXAMINER PHOTO | REUBEN MEES)
Members of the local entourage will present their counterparts with a variety of gifts, including A commemorative coin commissioned by the city of Bellefontaine. (HOME PAGE SLIDESHOW PHOTO)
Led by the International Friendship Center, the group consists of eight local youths ages 12 to 16, three adult chaperones and a contingent of four community leaders and their spouses.
“Our mom (Chelsea Furlong Bodnarik) thought this would be a cool experience for us,” said Ethan Bodnarik of Findlay, who is going on the trip along with his brother Omar. “She used to be a teacher at Bellefontaine and she went one year and taught English in Suzuka and loved it.”
The youths said they are looking forward to trying authentic Japanese sushi, riding a bullet train and seeing the temples and shrines. But unfortunately, they probably won’t get to see a sumo wrestling match, Ethan said.
They leave early Sunday morning and get to spend the early part of the week sightseeing and touring around Nagoya and Kyoto before traveling to Suzuka on Thursday.
The entire contingent — including the elected officials and community leaders — will stay in Suzuka with host families as the trip coincides with a major motorcycle race that has all the hotels booked, said Paul Benedetti, who is attending as a representative of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce, noting that he will be staying with a young couple with children ages 4 and 6.
Laney Mitchell, a Bellefontaine Middle School student, said she has already been in contact with her host family.
“I’ve actually been following my host family on Instagram,” she said.
Complete story and itinerary in Friday’s Examiner.
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