Japanese foreign exchange student wants to extend her stay in Onaway

It’s the halfway mark of the school year at Onaway Area Community Schools, and Japanese foreign exchange student Hito Naji has been so pleased with her experience she wants to find a way to stay.

Naji’s hometown is the community of Fukui in the central section of Japan, two hours west of Tokyo. The city faces the Sea of Japan on the north and has a population of about 350,000. While Onaway has just a fraction of that number, it’s living in a small town that has been so attractive to the student.

“I like it better than Japan,” Naji said from her pottery class Wednesday. “Everyone is really, really kind. Everyone takes care of each other.” Naji is one of five foreign exchange students attending Onaway High School this school year.

She came to northern Michigan August 20, and has been staying with her host family Harold and Sue Tennant, who have made her feel very welcome. “I feel like one of the family,” said Naji.

The 16-year-old student, who comes from a family of five, will receive a record of attendance at graduation ceremonies in June, but still has two more years of schooling left. If possible, Naji would like to extend her stay in Onaway, although she can do without the harsh winter conditions.

Minoji complained when she arrived in August and thought it was cold then. It warmed up in September, but it still was cooler that Fukui. “Japan it is more hot,” said Minoji. “I bring summer clothes, but here was very cold.” Naji didn’t experience really cold weather until just recently. In Fukui she said there are occasions when they do receive snow, but it melts quickly. Snow in Michigan, she said, is “more powdery.”

According to weather reports, the five-day forecast in Fukui called for temperatures between 40 and 50 degrees, with rain.

Her dream is to study economic systems in different countries, especially Japan and America. With report cards coming out, how did Minoji handle the first semester?

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8220;That was really bad,” she said, breaking into instant laughter when the topic came up. Naji struggled with her English the first month. “I have been getting better,” she said. “The first month, all of the time (I said) ‘what are you guys talking about.’ The class is really hard for me.”

Her favorite class was Women’s Studies because she had never taken a class like that before. Naji likes McDonald’s food better in America because there is more to eat, but really liked the variety of food at family gatherings during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

She stays in contact with her family on the phone and corresponds with loved ones back home via email. “I miss my friends, my sister (14) and brother (11), she said. Minoji also misses her mom and dad, along with her grandfather and grandmother.

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