NSU Student Attends 21st Annual Kyoto Exchange

TAHLEQUAH For Northeastern State University student Dawn Childress, it was the trip of a lifetime.

Childress recently returned from Kyoto, Japan, where she represented Oklahoma as part of the 21st Annual Kyoto-Oklahoma Youth Exchange.

We are extremely honored that Dawn was selected to represent Northeastern and Oklahoma in Kyoto, said NSU President Dr. Larry Williams.

Childress, an elementary education major and mother of three, was one of seven students across the state selected for the program. She was also the only non-traditional student chosen.

I am so pleased and blessed that I had this opportunity, said Childress. Japan is a very beautiful country. I was surprised by all of the similarities it had to the United States.

The trip, sponsored by the Oklahoma Lt. Governors Office, Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Kyoto government, was held July 10-19. Kyoto has been an Oklahoma Sister City since 1983.

Her family supported her decision to apply for the trip.

My husband said this was a once in a lifetime learning opportunity and I had to try for it, said Childress. I have always been interested in Japan, and having the chance to see the country and meet the people was amazing.

The NSU College of Education provided Childress with a number of gifts from the University for the trip. She also met with officials from Tenkiller State Park, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, and Ag in the Classroom program for information and gifts to share on the trip.

Once in Japan, the Oklahoma representatives met with students from Kyoto Prefectural University, where they spent several days discussing the relationship between Japan and the United States.

Childress discussed issues concerning the importation of U.S. beef and fears over Mad Cow disease, while other groups addressed environmental concerns and the history of interaction between the two countries.

We had a shift in our discussion to address other issues too, said Childress. We covered a variety of different topics, everything from to our countrys view on war to the effect of media on public opinion.

During the trip, Childress toured the Kyoto region, participated in a public forum at Doshisha University, attended a Japanese festival and traditional tea, watched sumo wrestling practice, and visited a Japanese family. Her host family took Childress on a tour of several historic Buddhist temples and taught her about the Buddhist religion.

For Childress, the most exciting part of the trip was an excursion to a Japanese elementary school in Kameoka Town. She taught the children several American games, like Ring Around the Rosy and Duck, Duck, Goose, toured the school and observed several classes.

It was really an eye-opening experience, said Childress. Japanese school culture is very similar to Americas schools.

Childress plans on sharing her experiences with fellow students and her own students once she starts teaching.

Ive already been approached by several junior high and high school teachers about speaking to their classes about the trip, said Childress. And Ill certainly share it with my fellow students in the education department.