Good Afternoon, my name is Brian Hendriks.
I have had the pleasure in participating in three of the past Wetaskiwin-Ashoro Exchanges. In September of both 2007 and 2009 I was allowed to be a Host Family for two Japanese Students. The first being Hirokatsu Suzuki, and the second Nobuhiko Yamato. Throughout the entire duration of the stays I have learned an enormous amount about the Japanese culture and people simply through these two individuals. During their stay we continually became closer, spending the majority of our time together finding activities which we can both participate in. Through these two exchanges I was also able to make friends with many other Japanese students who where staying with other host Families.
Unfortunately, all good things had to come to an end and I regretfully had to see many of my new friends leave to continue on through their Canada Tour. Fortunately through the internet I was able to keep in touch with many of the students that I had become friends with. Continually, emailing back and forth over the years with most. These hosting opportunities really grasped my interest on personally participating in the Ashoro-Wetaskiwin Exchange.
Finally in 2011 it was my turn to venture out on the study tour. During my stay I got to truly understand and compose a better understanding of the Japanese people and their culture. I was allowed to tour, try new things, meet many new people and really embrace the cultural differences. I got to see where the atomic-bomb had been dropped in Hiroshima, and see the gravity of the effect it had on the country. A site I believe that anyone who travels to Japan should see.
When at Ashoro I was able to reunite with many of the friends I had met through being a host family, as well as the privilege to meet the parents of my most recent home stay. Through the exchanges I was able to experience something unique that not many others have experienced. The delegations trips have allowed for me to gain a more worldly view, meet many great people as well as create memories that will last forever.
Unfortunately this is my graduating year of school, meaning that I will no longer be able to participate in the Wetaskiwin-Ashoro exchanges. I would like to thank everyone who has facilitated in the delegation trips between Wetaskiwin and Ashoro over the past years, for allowing for me to participate in such extraordinary experiences.
I look forward to hearing that the Friendship and exchange between the twinned cities last for many more years to come to allow for many more students to embrace and experience the uniqueness and memories that these delegations provide.
Thank you very much.
– Text of Brian Hendriks speech to Wetaskiwin City Council on May 9, 2011
