Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 26, 1995 TAG: 9503100012
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWIGHT FOXX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Ishikawa and Nakayama are exchange students from Japan who are experiencing America for the first time. Terrier volleyball coach Sharon Hensley says the two have been great additions to her volleyball team. Even more so, they've captured the hearts of their classmates.
``It's really been great,'' Hensley said. ``We have learned so much about each other's culture. They don't celebrate Thanksgiving, and we talk about how they celebrate Christmas as opposed to us. They've stolen everybody's hearts; they're such sweet young gals.''
The two students met at Washington State last summer, where they found out they would both be coming to the Roanoke area. Ishikawa, who lives in Osaka, says she wants to become a translator, while Nakayama, who lives in Nazgoya, wants to be an English teacher in Japan.
Coming to America was one way of helping them achieve their goals.
``I wanted to make American friends and speak American [English] very well,'' Ishikawa said, ``and experience American culture.''
Nakayama added, ``I wanted to know the real America and speak better English.''
Playing volleyball was also a way for them to make American friends.
Ishikawa had not played volleyball since junior high school, and Nakayama had never played the game.Ishikawa is a setter, who plays regularly, while Nakayama is a reserve on the back row.
``Yuko has real good setting skills,'' Hensley said. ``The word quickly got around school that she was a good setter. Miyuki has improved so much since the first couple of days of practice. If she [Miyuki] had been playing more, she would be awesome.''
Hensley won't go out on a limb and say her team would win the Blue Ridge District volleyball championship with her surprise players complementing a big hitter like Cathy Smith.
``Let's just say that they are providing the depth that we need,'' Hensley said.
In Japan, most students play one sport and play it year-round. Ishikawa played badminton, but Nakayama was not involved in sports. This will likely be it for their volleyball career; in Japan, athletes play 12 months a year and are a lot more advanced than Ishikawa and Nakayama.
That's OK with them. They treasure having the chance to experience America and wish they could stay forever.
They particularly like American cuisine. Hensley laughs when Ishikawa says in a bright-eyed voice that her favorite food is macaroni and cheese.
``She had macaroni before and cheese before, but she had never had the two together,'' Hensley said.
Even though she might get some debate from Americans, Nakayama says all American food is good and confesses her favorite: ``I like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.''
Valley View Mall has been voted ``our favorite place,'' while the difference between American teen-age boys and Japanese teen-age boys is that Americans seem older because they can drive. In Japan, drivers must be 18 years old, as opposed to 16 in most U.S. cities, before they can drive.
Nakayama adds one other difference:
``Some of them smell like smoke.''
In June, Ishikawa, 17, and Nakayama, 18, will head back to the Far East after graduating with their Byrd class. Nakayama will also graduate with her Japanese class in July, while Ishikawa will be in her senior year in the fall. ``I want to stay here forever,'' Ishikawa said. Nakayama echoed her sentiment.
by CNB