Shaler Area High School foreign language teacher Steven Balsomico is currently leading a group of eight students and recent alumni in Japan, where the group is participating in a remarkable cultural exchange in the city of Joyo.

Highlights of the visit have included a meeting with Joyo’s mayor and deputy mayor, a brief appearance at a city council meeting, and a feature in a local newspaper. The group’s host school has arranged an extraordinary range of cultural experiences, including visits to elementary schools, a traditional tea ceremony, and a tour of a 1,300-year-old temple. In a memorable gesture of welcome, the host school paused classes for all seniors to spend time with the Shaler visitors.

The Shaler students have made a strong impression on their hosts, who praised their enthusiasm, energy, and respectful conduct — and expressed interest in building closer ties between the two schools going forward.

For many students, the bonds formed during the trip are proving deeply meaningful. “The connections many students made will last them a lifetime,” Balsomico reflected.

As a gesture of goodwill, the host school’s administrative staff has prepared a gift for the Shaler Area Board of Education, continuing a tradition of exchanges between the two communities. Several students who participated in the trip are expected to attend an upcoming Board of Education meeting to present the gift and share reflections on their experience.