International Diplomacy

In 1990, a Sister City relationship was established between Miami and Kagoshima, Japan. From this partnership came the “Wings of Youth” student exchange program, which gives students from Kagoshima the opportunity to travel to Miami to stay with a host family for one week. Last week, in an effort spearheaded by Ms. Chiho Cotton, World Languages Faculty, four Gulliver Middle School students and their families hosted Japanese students as part of the program. The Kagoshima students were able to get an inside look at the daily life of a Miami Middle School student all week long, by attending their classes, and getting to know their friends and family.

At the Upper School, the Social Sciences Department hosted its annual US-Japan Diplomacy project. The project, led by Mr. Patrick Griffin, Prep Social Sciences Faculty, simulates negotiations of a treaty between the United States and Japan, exploring the special military relationship between them. The heart of the day’s events is a negotiation between government students (doubling as the State Department and the Senate), and students on a cultural exchange, assisted by Japanese language students. Students from other classes and the National English Honor Society also participated, and keynote speakers included the Consul General of Japan in Miami, and two dignitaries working for the State Department and the Department of Defense.