Published: August 30, 2008 09:30 pm         

Kameoka Corner 08-31-08

On Saturday evening at the end of the first week of the fall semester at Oklahoma State University, several hundred new international students converged on the International Center for Trade Development, often called the Wes Watkins Center, for the annual Mayor’s Welcome.

Quite a large number of groups representing the City of Stillwater, OSU, civic organizations, churches and other groups had tables set up to provide students from around the world with information, goodies, a warm handshake and smile.

In addition to the goodies at the tables, there was pizza and cold drinks for everyone. Additionally, the students had an opportunity to meet Mayor McMillian and to have their photo taken with him.

When students stopped by our Sister Cities table, we checked the Sister Cities International directory to see if their hometown had a sister cities relationship with a U.S. city.

Several were surprised and delighted that their hometown was paired with a U.S. city in an effort to promote international friendship and cultural awareness and appreciation.

We were delighted to talk to students from a number of countries but were especially pleased to talk with a new student from our sister city of Kameoka whose name is Shingo Nakatsuji. He’s a university student in Japan and took a year off to come to Stillwater to study English.



Larry Jones is a member of the Stillwater Sister Cities Council.

     

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