Yonezawa students arrive in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Japanese exchange students received a warm welcome from Mayor Ron Covey Tuesday morning, a day after their arrival in Moses Lake.

"It is indeed a pleasure to welcome you students to our community," Covey said.

Students arrived in Moses Lake Monday evening after dealing with a delayed flight in Japan and a missed connection in Vancouver, B.C.

Their itinerary Tuesday included touring City Hall, the police department and fire department.

"By the time you leave Moses Lake, we hope you have found it to be a second home for you," Covey said.

Covey presented students with lapel pins. Students presented the city with artwork they made, which is going to be on display at the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center.

Chaperone Cathy Sly said the Yonezawa exchange students create artwork every year and bring it with them to the city.

Publisher of The Yonezawa Shimbun newspaper Yukio Seino accompanied the exchange students, along with writer and editor Megumi Watanabe.

With help from a translator, Seino said Moses Lake feels like home to him. For the past 27 years he has made the trip with students.

Exchange student Sakano Toyoo said through the translator Moses Lake is beautiful and the people are friendly.

"The weather is nice, so dry, not humid like Yonezawa," Toyoo said.

Moses Lake High School student Dani Holle likened bringing the students to Moses Lake after visiting them in Japan to reconnecting with an old friends.

"It's really nice because we already have a connection from being over with them in Japan," Holle said.

She planned to show a Japanese student the fun life of an American teenager, including introducing the student to her friends.

During their six days in Moses Lake, the Yonezawa students are visiting the aquatic center, watching a demolition derby, visiting the Grant County Fair, touring farms in the Quincy area, seeing a rodeo and traveling to Grand Coulee Dam.