My interest in Japan started in the early 1990s when I stumbled across an episode of “Dragon Ball” on TV.
Who knew that decades later, I would be traveling to Japan regularly, teaching English to Japanese immigrants, and helping our local community celebrate its own international friendships?
Community-supported journalism
This article was made possible by the generous support of Newsberg readers and advertisers. Independent local news takes real resources to produce. If Newsberg is valuable to you, please consider joining us — for as little as $1 a month, or with a one-time gift in any amount.
Our world feels smaller than ever thanks to the internet and cell phones. Yet, right here in our part of Oregon, in the City of Newberg, I am reminded that there is still a big, beautiful world out there to learn from. Engaging with other cultures and languages can spark a new passion in anyone. I saw that spark firsthand when Asago City, Japan, recently sent a delegation of middle school students and chaperones to Newberg.
Late Friday night on July 31, host families and Chehalem Valley Middle School (CVMS) students, who had previously traveled to Asago themselves, awaited the arrival of our guests. Armed with a “Greetings from Oregon” sign autographed by CVMS staff and students, they warmly welcomed the tired travelers just after 10:30 p.m. Exhausted from a long flight and bus ride, the students headed off with their host families to rest and enjoy a welcoming weekend.
Monday, the official tour of Newberg began. The group visited St. Cousair, one of our local businesses. It is a Japanese company that makes sauces, jams, and drink mixers (seriously, do yourself a favor and try their yuzu drink mix or the enoki mushroom topping).
After a stop to play at Memorial Park, the group headed to City Hall. Gifts were exchanged, and city staff and the mayor officially welcomed the delegation. One Asago student even prepared a short speech in English, thanking Newberg for its hospitality and expressing a deep appreciation for the beauty of our region, committing to learning about our culture while sharing theirs.
Following some free time to shop and grab lunch (right as the wildfire smoke unfortunately began rolling into town), the group headed to the Newberg Public Library. Director Korie Buerkle led a tour, highlighting the library’s amenities and community activities before we all settled in to play an assortment of games.
Next up was the Chehalem Cultural Center to see the incredible “Exquisite Creatures” exhibit. (If you haven’t had the chance to visit yet, head over before it closes the first week of September!)
Shortly after, the delegation arrived at CVMS for a tour of the middle school. I had the privilege of stepping in to teach a short ESL (English as a Second Language) class. Having taught ESL to Japanese immigrants and students for years, I always find it fun to gauge their language levels and see which games and activities bring out the most engagement.
August is the most common time for students from Japan to travel, as it’s when their summer break is. The downside to this is they don’t get to experience American schools when class is in session.
While my direct time with the group ended there, as I had a separate middle school crew from Japan that I was teaching that week, their itinerary remained packed. Even though the wildfire smoke canceled a planned trip to Mount Hood, they still enjoyed visits to the coast, the aquarium, and the Oregon Zoo.
As the week came to a close, everyone reconvened at the Old School House for a Sayonara (Farewell) Party. The potluck was a pleasant celebration highlighted by student and teacher speeches, an impressive kendama performance by the Japanese students, and a fun dance by the CVMS students. City representatives, school district officials, and host families all gathered to hear speakers express their deep gratitude for the Newberg-Asago sister city connection.
One unforgettable moment came from CVMS Principal Andy Debois, who spoke to a core principle of sister cities: promoting peace. He reminded us that these programs exist so we can include one another, share our cultures, and celebrate our differences.
“Look around the room,” Debois said. “These are our future leaders. Future business owners.”
And just like that, in the time it typically takes me to recover from jet lag after returning from Japan, the group from Asago came and went.
“I hope to visit Newberg again,” one student said.
Maintaining this amazing program takes immense effort. Donna Golden and her support team at CVMS deserve major recognition. “Right into preparing for the next trip,” she told me, adding that incoming CVMS students will soon have the chance to apply for the 2027 trip to Asago.
A huge thank you goes out to our elected officials and City of Newberg staff for maintaining these diplomatic ties. Thank you as well to the local businesses, citizens, and host families who provided our friends from Japan with such a hospitable week in Oregon. I trust it’s an experience that will stick with many of them for a lifetime.
I am deeply humbled to have been a part of it. At the beginning of 2026, I formed Connect Newberg with the hope that these experiences not only continue but flourish. We are proud to have recently been granted 501(c)(3) charitable status, and we are fully committed to supporting Newberg and its sister city connections.
Already, we have been able to provide Japanese language classes and books to traveling CVMS students, and we are currently supporting the upcoming delegation to Poysdorf. We have many plans to continue celebrating our international friendships through educational, economic, and cultural exchanges.
To learn more, please visit our website at www.connectnewberg.org
If you are interested in supporting our cause, please consider checking out our Zeffy fundraising page (think GoFundMe, but completely fee-free for nonprofits).
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/connecting-newberg-to-the-world
