A large river travels through the jagged mountains and flows through the city surrounded by steep, lush evergreen forests. Moss sprawls across mist-soaked rocks and vibrant lichen works in partnership to create a rich ecosystem, bubbling with life. The Ibo River in Shiso, Japan, is 4,968 miles from the Dungeness River, yet the two rivers provide similar and vital functions in the cities they traverse.

Like the Dungeness, the Ibo River not only provides habitat for a variety of wildlife and species of fish, but it’s the lifeblood of the community, transporting water for agriculture. Similar to Sequim, a maze of irrigation ditches flows through the community.

The people of Sequim and Shiso, however, have much more in common than a shared reliance on rivers. Since 1993, Sequim and Shiso have been bonded as sister cities. To continue to strengthen this lasting relationship between the cities, every year a handful of ninth-grade students participate in an exchange program focused on friendship, culture, education, community involvement and commerce.

This year, along with two other chaperones, I was lucky enough to accompany the students on this journey of a lifetime. Together, we spent a mere nine days (Oct. 10-19) in Japan, traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto, then to Himeji and finally to Shiso.

To say there were no challenges while traveling with 10 freshmen wouldn’t be accurate, but the overall experience gleaned by the students I hope and feel was invaluable.

Throughout my time in Shiso, the importance placed on the area’s landscapes and natural resources was obvious and something of note. Located in the heart of Hyogo Prefecture, Shiso is fairly rural with a population of about 41,500, and has a similar feel to Clallam County.

Visually, it was easy to see the strong and shared appreciation for locally grown food. Even between homes, either a diverse garden with sweet potatoes, soybeans, taro, beans and various greens or a rice paddy would be planted instead of a yard. In talking with our Japanese host, I was told most homes are built in areas unfavorable for growing rice.

Like in Sequim, the people of Shiso appear to deeply value their land and its use that is balanced between urban growth, working forests and active agriculture, as well as nature. If you looked up- or downriver while crossing the bridge, it was common to see one or two people fishing and enjoying the bounty of the river, just as many do on the Dungeness River.

As in Sequim, Shiso is not far from the Pacific coastline, yet it is surrounded by mountainous terrain where among many types of wildlife, sika deer, Japanese macaques and Asian black bears could find refuge. We were only able to take one small trip through the mountains, but the moss-covered trees and damp air reminded me of home and the Hoh Rainforest.

Despite the expansive Pacific Ocean separating our communities, to me, it was clear those in Shiso love where they live — just as I love the North Olympic Peninsula. Verbal communication proved to be an entertaining challenge, but to simply observe the way the people nearly 5,000 miles away from my home interact and care for their land base was inspiring.

My time in Shiso reminded me of how truly connected our actions are and the importance of being the best stewards that we can, of not only our home, but our small corner of the earth.

Alana Linderoth is the community engagement specialist with the North Olympic Land Trust and former Sequim Gazette reporter.

Sequim students make cultural exchange

On Oct. 10, 10 ninth-grade students, along with their three chaperones, traveled to Sequim’s Sister City in Shiso, Japan, as community ambassadors.

They all volunteered to go to learn about and experience Sequim’s Sister City’s culture, live with a host family and see world heritage sites, all while representing Sequim in a long-standing exchange program. Their 10-day trip took them to Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Shiso.

This year’s students were Brianna Cowan, Blaise Beuke, Eva Lofstrom, Erin Rosengren, Payton Sturm, Jakob King, Eden Johnson, Michel Himmelberger, Zen Graham and Deven Biehler.

The students worked odd jobs, held garage sales, car washes, volunteered at Carrie Blake Park for sponsors, etc., to raise funds in their effort to cover travel costs.

The adult chaperone ambassadors were Alana Linderoth, Pamela Leonard-Ray and Ralph Riccio.

Linderoth is the community engagement specialist with the North Olympic Land Trust, Leonard-Ray is a Sequim city councilor and Riccio is a shellfish biologist with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. They also covered their own travel costs to represent Sequim and look after Sequim’s students.

Now in its 23rd year, the program grew from the Sister City relationship between Sequim and Shiso, Japan.

The all-volunteer, Sequim-Shiso Sister City Association members coordinate the program under the auspices of the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The program is a short-term educational and cultural exchange that promotes friendship and mutual understanding between students of Sequim and Shiso City and its residents.

Students from Shiso come to Sequim in September and stay in the homes of the Sequim student ambassadors.

A month later, Sequim ambassadors travel to Shiso and stay with the families of the students who came to Sequim.

Other exchange purposes involve teaching Sequim students about Japanese culture, history and language through first-hand experiences; broadening the student perspective of international relations; planning, preparing and participating in international travel; and sharing experiences with family, classmates, teachers and the community.

During the 10-day trip, the Sequim delegation of students and adults spent four full days in Shiso and the rest of their cultural experience between Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Himeji, visiting historical and world-class heritage sites, temples, museums and centers — traveling by bullet train, bus and subway.

After their return from Japan on Oct. 19, the students and chaperones will share about their experience with individuals, groups and fellow students and teachers who helped sponsor them.

Speaking as one who has traveled to Sequim’s Sister City as a chaperone before, “It truly is an opportunity and trip of a lifetime,” said Annette Hanson, exchange coordinator.