March 25, 2006
Saturday

I'm not a political person. To be honest I think it's boring, but I'm not writing this letter to say how much I hate politics. As most probably don't know I am in the Ketchikan Kanayama student exchange program. We have been struggling the past few weeks, and the school board is threatening to cut our funding. Personally if the city has 500,000,000 dollars to make a bridge to a island of about 50 people and not enough money to send 19 kids on a trip of a life time...

This program has affected many families from Ketchikan and Japan. We were lucky enough to to house two girls who I became very good friends with and they were very sad to leave. I will never forget the fun I had when they were over here, and I hope to go over there in June. I have had 3 siblings go to Kanayama in the past, my older brother Brian who is a senior in college, my sister Heather who is a junior in high school, and my step sister Collette who is a freshman in high school. I know I'm not the most compelling writer but please support the cause.

Support the Ketchikan Kanayama Student Exchange program please!

David Bergeron
Ketchikan, AK - USA

About: My name is David Bergeron, I am 13 years old, of Ketchikan, Alaska.

Articles about Kanayama:

Ohayo Gozaimasu Ketchikan By Daniel Patton - As I write, fat snowflakes are gently wafting past the large windows of the Kanayama Middle School teacher's office. Outside on a gravel field the P.E. class is laughing and shouting as they practice soccer and plod through the occasional muck hole. In all directions steep, densely forested mountains rise quickly, their concealed peaks presumably accumulating quality snow while down here we must be content with the soggy dregs. Remind you of anywhere in particular?... More...
Tuesday - February 15, 2005

School Is A Serious Matter By Daniel Patton - Ohayoo Gozaimasu Citizens of Ketchikan! - More...
Thursday - December 02, 2004

Kanayama... Ketchikan's Sister City By Daniel Patton - In 1986, through the work of many forward-thinking politicians and educators on both sides of the Pacific, Ketchikan and Kanayama, Japan began a sister city relationship. Since then, over 500 middle school students, 36 teachers, several political delegations and cultural emissaries (Alaska Native dancers, Japanese Taiko drummers, Japanese flower arrangers) have made the 9,000 mile journey across the North Pacific to participate in cultural and educational enrichment. This remarkably successful sister city arrangement is one of the longest running Japanese-American exchange programs in either nation.
- More...
Tuesday - November 02, 2004

 

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