Takko-Machi Resumes Student Exchange
Gilroy ' s Sister City Makes Long Awaited Return Visit
By Dave Peoples
After a 5 year hiatus of a decades old program that brought Jr. High students to Gilroy every October, on October 24, 2024, seven Takko Jr. High School Students and three adults( the Superintendent of Education and two teachers) left their homes in Japan for a one-week cultural exchange and homestay experience in Gilroy accompanied by two frequent Gilroy visitors from Takko and Takko’ s Coordinator of International Affairs( CIR), who is a young college graduate from Gilroy employed by Takko-Machi in a one / two-year position.
The contingent arrived at SFO and embarked on a 7-day whirlwind adventure through the Bay Area Region of Northern California. They enjoyed a bus tour of the most historical spots of San Francisco before moving on to their hotel in San Jose. The next day, after a quick stop at the Meta campus and the Google offices in Mountain View, lunch at Chipotle with an excursion to Trader Joes in Morgan Hill and a rest stop at LJB Farms in San Martin, the group arrived at the Senior Center in Gilroy the afternoon of October 25th to be greeted by the Gilroy Sister Cities Association( GSCA), and introduced to their host families for the week.
our new friends from Takko-Machi and their homestay family members expressed their heartfelt thanks to each other and extended invitations to visit each other again.
Gilroy Sister Cities Association works closely with Takko’ s Coordinator of International Affairs, to make all of this happen. Homestay host families are asked to provide a comfortable, warm & welcoming family environment, private bedroom, breakfast, dinner, transportation to and from arranged morning drop off and afternoon pickup and family activities.
Gilroy Sister Cities Association exists to foster, encourage and promote the exchange of culture between cities of foreign nations similar to the City of Gilroy. Gilroy has six Sister Cities; St. Clar France, Takko-Machi, Japan, Angra do Heroismo, Azores, Monticelli, Italy, Tecate, Mexico and Koror, Palau.
If you would like more information about GSCA and how you can help with their hosting efforts please contact Dave Peoples at: gcmrcntl @ garlic. com.
On Saturday, the 26th the group was“ vanned” about town by GSCA and toured Downtown. They stopped for a photo op at Takko-Machi lane and a short but fun mock-baseball game at the Sports Park. Then they were off to Target and Barnes & Noble. After lunch at In & Out Burger they checked-in for a visit and tour of Visit Gilroy’ s California Welcome Center at the Outlets.
Sunday was a welcomed free time with homestay families. Sunday evening, most of the group and many of the host families gathered at the Reynolds family home for pumpkin carving, BBQ and relaxation.
Monday brought a tour of the Google Tree Farm and a meeting with the Mayor at City Hall, teaching Japanese calligraphy and origami to 7th & 8th grade classes at South Valley Middle School and lunch the group had purchased earlier at Nob Hill. Then a great tour of Christopher High School and back to Nob Hill for a scavenger hunt and a little shopping for CANDY & COOKIES.
Tuesday, after stopping at the memorial tree planted at Christmas Hill park commemorating the Gilroy-Takko-Machi 10-Year Sister City Relationship- now 35 years and counting, the group was treated to a tour of the Miller Red Barn. Next was a visit to Saint Mary School to interact with 7th & 8th grade classes again teaching Japanese calligraphy and origami and enjoying lunch from Pizza My Heart. Before heading to the library to prepare for the farewell party at Old City Hall, the group explored the exhibits at the Historical Museum on Fifth Street. At the farewell party, the pumpkins that were carved on Sunday were judged, a great pasta dinner was enjoyed and
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