Visiting Japanese students learn Chamorro culture, history

by Jolene Toves

Guam - Festivities continue in celebration of Chamorro Month. Students, faculty and staff at Temple Baptist Christian School got cultural, sharing the spirit of Chamorro hospitality and cultural embrace with 39 8th grade Japanese students and three teachers visiting from Shimojo Junior High School in the Shimoina-Gun Nagano Prefecture.

The students were given a dose of Chamorro history learning about Guam's people and culture. Temple welcomed the exchange students with a fiesta filled with Chamorro food, fruits and vegetables, Chamorro artifacts, culturally inspired games, rope weaving and coconut candy making as well as carabao rides were the highlights of the day.

Through the exchange program the students were able to foster a better understanding and awareness of the differences and similarities between the cultures and customs of Guam and Japan.