Mrs. Margie Soliz’s fifth grade class from Ricardo Middle School, with some of the letters they received from students who attend Takio Junior High School in Japan. After an inspiring visit to Japan, Ricardo Middle School teacher Margie Soliz was able to create a pen pal program between Takio Junior High school and her own 5th grade class.

“As a school teacher, one is always looking for new ways to motivate and educate our students,” Soliz said. “I visited classrooms and met the teachers of many schools and was able to create the pen pal program.”

Although classes were not in session during her visit, the teachers were hard at work planning and preparing for the upcoming session, she said.

“Teachers in Japan work all year around and have almost no vacation time,” Soliz said. “I asked many questions and they were very kind and informative about the school system in Japan.”

Two Japanese students from Takio Junior High School reading letters from Mrs. Soliz’s fifth grade class from Ricardo Middle School. Over the next year after the legal and technical logistics of the program were all worked out, the classes were able to begin correspondence.

Soliz also invited Armenia Morales’ class from Ricardo to write letters.

“Lists of student’s names were exchanged and the Japanese students sent elaborate letters to their friends here in Texas,” Soliz said. “Since these students were studying English, they wrote their letters in Japanese then translated them into English.”

Soliz said the Japanese students wrote about their school, customs, culture, attractions, and popular games among Japanese children, as well as video games, music, Manga (a type of comic or cartoon in Japan), and their interest in American culture.

“They asked my students about customs, foods, and music groups from the United States and were eager to learn about their first international friends,” Soliz said.

Soliz said the Ricardo students were very excited when they received their letters from Japan.

“The moment they saw the strange Kanji (a form of Japanese writing) and elaborate decorations, their world expanded beyond the limits of South Texas,” she said.

The Ricardo students shared their own culture with the Japanese students as well.

“My students wrote about their experiences at Ricardo School, Texan foods, music, their favorite video games, and the animals that they raise for livestock shows,” Soliz said. “Then, to give Japan a taste of America, the letters were packed with omiyage (the Japanese term for presents from abroad) of Valentine’s candy and cards.”

Overall, Soliz said the amazement of just knowing their letters were coming from Japan and seeing another form of writing was an educational experience for her students.

“I took pleasure seeing our students so excited in completing an assignment,” Soliz said. “Imagine, for the cost of one flat-rate mail box to Japan, these students were able to broaden their horizons and experience a little bit of Japan.”