Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • August 14, 2013 Guests from Japan (continued from page 7) “This is where we transact the business of the borough and then there’s a section called open to the public. The part of the meeting that is probably most useful is where the public comes to the microphone and can talk about things that concern them.” With Glen Rock resident Mari Aral translating, van Keuren and Onomachi visit organizer Kristen Stewart O’Brien explained about the rock on Rock Road that gave the borough its name. The students left the courtroom on their way to the pool, but took time to gaze at the turn-of- the-century photographs of Glen Rock when the borough still had mud streets, men sported handlebar moustaches, and women wore ground-length skirts. The 15 Onomachi youngsters and their three adult chap- erones spent the next week on to visits to New York City with a day at the Jersey Shore. Hiroyoshi Yoshida said Hurricane Sandy’s devastation of the shore reminded him of the way the seacoast of Japan looked like after the tsunami, but he believed Americans would rally and recover. “I was excited and impressed to see the Statue of Lib- erty,” Yoshida said. “The students were moved to look up at the tall statue. They saw it from a boat, which made it look small at first, but once they landed on the island where the statue stands, they were thrilled and took many photos.” “The Statue of Liberty was splendid and a lot bigger than I expected,” middle school student Natsumi Akasaka agreed. Fu-ka Nishimaki, another student, said that Times Square looks like any big city in Japan, a comment shared by other students. However, she was impressed with the Empire State Building because she could see the five bor- oughs of New York and even New Jersey from the top of the edifice. She also enjoyed seeing a production of “The Lion King.” “It was very interesting and exciting and we enjoyed it very much,” she said. “Everything is bigger than in Japan,” said Ryuya The Onomachi visitors pose for a group shot on the steps of Glen Rock Borough Hall. Yoshida. “American food is delicious and they offered us a big volume. We happened to eat Italian food.” Yoshida’s buddy Riku Namatame said he was delighted to see all the tall New York City buildings he had seen in American movies. “American host families were very kind and tried to make us talk a lot of English,” Namatame noted. Mayor van Keuren, using wooden chopsticks to light the heaters under the food trays at the farewell diner, said this year’s Onomachi visit was another success due to the Glen Rock host families, the Japanese visitors, and above all to Kristen Stewart O’Brien and Steve O’Brien and their families, who have organized Onomachi visits since Kris- ten taught in Japan after graduating from Glen Rock High School in 1987. “Steven and Kristen do a fantastic job every year,” the mayor said. “They’re terrific organizers and their enthusi- asm is contagious.”