Macon-Bibb, Kurobe continue decades-long student exchange program

For 52 years, Macon-Bibb has had a close relationship with Japan - and more specifically the City of Kurobe. YKK opened its first American manufacturing plant here in 1974, and because of that relationship, Kurobe became Macon's Sister City since May 1977. Since then, more than 1,000 people have traveled between the two cities, and Kurobe has donated more than 3,400 lanterns and 60,000 tulips to Macon.

One of the most endearing and long-term impacts, though, is the exchange program where junior high and high school students from each city visit the other for a week, touring historical sites, spending time in classrooms, learning more about the other's culture, and living with a local family. This year, it was Kurobe's turn to send students to Macon, and from Friday, November 6 through Wednesday, November 11.

Each of the 20 students were paired with a local family who opened their homes to the students, taking them to a variety of sites and experiences around the city and state throughout the weekend. From the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park to Dausett Trails to Downtown restaurants to the Hay House to Bond Swamp to the Georgia Aquarium to the Coliseum and Christmas Made in the South, and so much more, the students were offered a wide variety of sights, sounds, and experiences.

At the end of the exhausting weekend, the students, host families, and Kurobe educators gathered at the Hutchings College & Career Academy for dinner and talk about their experiences. The Kurobe students were able to share with the families bits of their culture with group demonstrations on using chopsticks, the history of Kurobe, the significance of origami, and more. After the demonstrations they all broke into groups to give the families a chance to try out the new experiences.

The next day, they toured the YKK facility that brought the two cities together, and spent several days in actual classrooms, noting the difference between how each is educated. At a special lunch presentation, Macon-Bibb's Executive Director of Community Affairs, Dr. Henry Ficklin summed the visit and whirlwind of experiences directly.

"One of the things we want you to enjoy while here is to have the understanding that you're one of us," he told them. "We want you to feel like a Maconite."