Japanese Pastry Students Taste American Life

The 42 Japanese students crowded into an Oxnard College classroom Thursday morning to watch two students in giant white chefs hats create a swan out of a melon, strawberries and apples.

They were visiting from the Kokusai Confectionary College outside Tokyo to see how their American counterparts make pastry.

But Oxnard administrators hope this taste of American life, and sweets, will lure the students back for exchange programs.

“We’re trying to recruit more international students districtwide,” said Oxnard College’s Cathy Garnica, who is helping to coordinate the Japanese students’ visit. “When students travel, they like Ventura County. It’s a lot safer than L.A., the beach is less crowded and the homes are really good. We are dedicated to bringing more students here--and not just from Japan.”

The Japanese teachers, too, hope this nibble of American life will bring students back for more. Satomu Yamamura, who helps coordinate exchanges between Oxnard and Kokusai colleges, said 250 to 400 students visit each year, but only a small percentage will return to enroll.

Whatever their long-term plans, the America they have seen in their weeklong trip has shattered their stereotypes. In seven days they will visit San Francisco, Oxnard, Anaheim and Los Angeles.

Yuko Kondo and Naoko Yahagi, both 18, in their visits to Oxnard High School and Oxnard College, have been shocked about everything from the size of American roads to the friendliness of American high school boys.

“We met lots of people at the high school. We were scared,” Yuko said. “There were lots of people with dark hair, who looked kind of Japanese. I thought everyone in America would have blond hair.”

Their short trip has set them dreaming.

“I would like to work in a pastry shop in a hotel here,” Yuko said, gazing at the platter of petits fours and cream puffs made jointly by students of both countries.

Naoko’s ambitions are bigger.

“I’d like to make a huge white wedding cake--bigger than we could ever make in Japan,” she said.