The giggles began when the kindergartener told Rina Suzuki, “You are so adorable!”
By the time Rina, a 17-year-old from Kakuda, Japan, started reading animal sounds from a book in Japanese, the entire room burst into joy and laughter.
Rina is among six teenagers and two chaperones visiting Greenfield this month. Sister Cities of Greenfield has thrived for 36 years, uniting travelers from both countries for cultural exchange through simple acts like family games at home, to trips to stadiums and amusement parks.
Travelers stay with local host families, and visit the sights of Greenfield and Indianapolis, including schools, businesses and government buildings.
Greenfield-Central’s administrators, staff and students have been involved with Sister Cities since the program’s inception. This week was full of magical moments celebrating how students are alike and different.
Reading from a bilingual Eric Carle book, Rina was able to easily entertain 5-year-olds, teens and adults alike.
A cat says “meow meow” in Japanese. A bunny doesn’t “hop,” but “poings.”
When Rina made a rooster say “ko kay ko ko,” the room erupted with laughter.
Weston Elementary teacher Melanie Linder brings moments like these to her class as often as possible. Having traveled to Kakuda herself years ago, Mrs. Linder loves it when students return to her class for a demonstration.
Monday’s meeting with Rina was extra special: in 2024, Mrs. Linder hosted Rina’s older brother in her home for a week.
Sister Cities of Greenfield is a program in which residents of Greenfield and Kakuda, Japan travel to learn about the cultures of their communities by living in homes and exploring neighborhoods, schools and businesses.
In 2025, a group of Greenfield-Central ambassadors traveled to Japan. This week, it was Greenfield’s turn to host students and chaperones with open arms.
The group spent about two hours visiting each GC school, exploring art, music or gym classes; playing gaga ball for the first time; creating wooden catapults in shop class; and even tasting American snacks.
(Sour Patch Kids were a hit. Black licorice, not so much.)
The visits this week spanned buildings of all sizes. Travelers met therapy dogs and youngsters at Cougar Cubs preschool; and were enthralled at the size of Greenfield-Central High School and its music and athletic departments.
Watching students write names and numbers in Japanese characters was a favorite activity at nearly every age level.
Teachers and staff warmly welcomed the group, and children quickly warmed up to the teens. Lunch at J.B. Stephens Elementary was exciting Tuesday, said Dean of Students Corey Gilman.
Students cheered as the visitors entered the cafeteria and it was a delight watching everyone bond over a classic lunch of chicken tenders.
“One of the highlights was seeing several of the Kakuda visitors pleasantly surprised to spot one of our first-graders using chopsticks to eat lunch from his Thermos!” he said. “Throughout the visit, our kids were thrilled to pose for pictures with the Kakuda students, and seeing our playground—especially the slides—bring out big smiles across cultures was truly special.”
Principal Amy Sutton agreed, saying these moments with students from Japan brings the Sister Cities program to life.
“These visits encourage curiosity, friendship and respect across cultures,” said Sutton, who also serves on the Sister Cities nonprofit board. “The tours make the Sister Cities relationship personal and meaningful while helping build connections that can last well beyond the visit.”
The program is near and dear to Superintendent Dr. Harold Olin’s heart. He has visited Kakuda three times
“My love and admiration for the people of Japan have grown each time I have visited,” he said. “Our Sister Cities participants are incredibly friendly and eager to exchange ideas. This ongoing dialogue makes us all better.”
GC schools have partnered with the program since its inception, back when Mayor McClarnon and Superintendent Dr. Clinkenbeard both believed in the importance of cultural exchange in the late 1980s. GC has provided tours and experiences for visitors annually, and has encouraged GC families to consider hosting visitors each year.
“I want our students to see that we have a lot in common with people from around the world,” Olin added. “I think it is good for our students to see and experience some of the differences we have.”
Greenfield’s relationship with Kakuda began in 1988, and the official Sister City partnership emerged in 1990. The 35th anniversary of the program was celebrated in 2025 with the addition of a large artistic mural in downtown Greenfield, titled “Bridging Communities.”
Many of Greenfield-Central’s buildings have display cases with Japanese souvenirs and photos to spark the curiosity and interest of future travelers.
“The strength of the partnership is especially evident in the number of Greenfield-Central students, families, teachers, administrators, and staff who have participated over the years,” said Lyndi Grubb, president of the Sister Cities board. “Host families are one of the most important pieces of the exchange. When students and chaperones from Kakuda visit Greenfield, local families open their homes and allow the visitors to experience American family life—not simply as tourists, but as members of the family for their stay. The same happens when Greenfield-Central students travel to Kakuda, where they live with Japanese host families for approximately ten days.”
GC students are ambassadors for Greenfield when they travel to Kakuda every other year. Teachers and school employees have hosted Japanese students over the years, have welcomed them into their classroom, and have also traveled as adult chaperones.
Board members for the nonprofit organization include several GC employees. Grubb describes GC’s role as a true community partner.
“The fact that GC students and staff are involved on both sides of the exchange—welcoming Kakuda to Greenfield and traveling to Kakuda themselves—is a strong indication of how deeply the partnership is woven into the school community,” Grubb said. “What makes the GC–Sister Cities relationship special is that there isn’t just one point of involvement. A student may participate in a trip, a family may host a Japanese student, a teacher may welcome visitors into a classroom, an administrator may travel to Kakuda, and a community member may serve on the Sister Cities board. All of those experiences reinforce one another. Over the decades, the program has created hundreds of personal relationships and friendships between people in Greenfield and Kakuda.”
To learn more about Sister Cities of Greenfield, visit sistercitiesofgreenfield.org or follow the conversation on social media at facebook.com/groups/SisterCitiesOfGreenfield.
While this year’s visit is coming to an end, GC teachers and staff are welcome to reach out to the sister cities board to learn about future chaperone opportunities or to even have a presentation about the program in a classroom. Email [email protected].
By Maribeth Vaughn
GCJHS students stop working to take a picture with their new friends from Kakuda, Japan. Since the late 1980s GC has provided tours and experiences for visitors annually, and has encouraged GC families to consider hosting visitors each year.