Students From Japan Get Taste of Life in U.S.

Talk about your cross-cultural experiences: Japanese exchange students at an American high school making French fries, onion rings and potato chips.

That was the scene in a Thousand Oaks High School cooking class Friday, but somehow--amid the grease, starch and salt--friendships blossomed.

“I like it here--the people are very nice,” said Feilang Tseng, 16, a potato in one hand and salt on her fingers.

She is one of 27 exchange students visiting Southern California from Osaka. Thousand Oaks families have hosted the exchange students since Nov. 8, with the intention of showing their guests a slice of teenage American life, said Lois Conrad, the teacher who advises the International Club.

To that end, the Osaka students have attended a football game, homecoming festivities, a party, a church group and classes in Japanese, government and cooking. The students will stay in the Southland until Dec. 20, studying intensive English at the Osaka Sangyo University in Studio City.

While the American and Japanese students peeled, cut and fried together, the conversation ranged from the electrical parade at Disneyland to differences in cultural customs, schooling, shopping and eating.

Americans tend to take showers instead of soaking baths in the morning, noted teacher Izumi Sawada. And they drive their cars on the wrong side of the road, added Taizo Yamamoto, 16. Both agreed that American schools start too early in the morning.

On the plus side, “It’s a very, very nice country,” Feilang said. “Shopping is very cheap.”

To foster friendships despite a language barrier, high school senior Dana Sax said she relied on pantomime and smiles.

“It’s fun to communicate with the exchange students and listen to them telling us about their trip and their culture,” said Sax, 17.

The cooking wasn’t bad either, said Kumi Nakajima, 16, eating a delicacy that transcends nationalities. “It’s good, very good,” she said, holding a hot, greasy fry.