The bi-annual Japanese Exchange program has resurfaced after the pandemic! Led by Haddonfield Memorial High School teacher Ms. Gammie, 17 Haddonfield students traveled to Japan this past summer. 

Mr. Bill Brown, the current president of the Haddonfield Lions Club, established this program in 2006. Brown, a former teacher in Philadelphia, ran this exchange program with his students and later handed it off to Ms. Gammie.

A connection between Brown’s former school, now replaced by Haddonfield, and the Sendai International School has formed over the years. It functions on a bi-yearly system, where Haddonfield students travel to Japan, and the following year, the Japanese students come to Haddonfield. 

When asked about her experience in Japan, Gammie mentioned her surprise at the constant cleanliness and safety she encountered. She remarked, “I noticed how respectful the Japanese people are of each other, visitors, and their public spaces.”

While in Sendai, Gammie and the students attend a baseball game. However, they were again shocked by Japanese culture and remarked, “Everyone stays behind and cleans up all of their trash.” It was agreed that this was the most vastly different experience from living in America to visiting Japan, comparing the “peaceful and hospitable” atmosphere of Sendai and the rowdy and fast-paced life in Philadelphia.

Although this trip took place over the summer, the relationships between Haddonfield students began long before. A local woman in town who moved from Japan to America hosted Japanese lessons on language and culture. This allowed the participants, ranging from 8th to 12th grade, to meet and interact with each other before they flew across the world. On those newfound bonds, Gammie commented, “The juniors and seniors were really considerate and took the younger students under their wing.”