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Tropic Lightning News -- 8 March 2001
 Photo(s) by Sgt. Lauren Reader Staff Sgt. Damon Brody, HHC, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt., intelligence analyst, dips some beef in raw egg, a Japanese dining custom.  Brody, Shigeru Takahashi, the Japanese host and Spc. Chris Juaraz,, HHC, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt., RTO for the Scout Platoon, eat dinner, Japanese style. | Japanese families welcome Soldiers into their homes By Sgt. Lauren Reader HOKKAIDO, Japan - As they sat down on floor cushions, the 15-foot table before them began to fill with plates of food, one after the other, until there wasn't a spot of tablecloth left to be seen. This is a vision fresh in the memory of Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, and one they won't soon forget. Families of Hokkaido, Japan welcomed more than 100 Soldiers into their homes Feb. 23 as part of the Home Visit Program, a program designed to improve the cross-cultural understanding of both Japanese and American participants. "I've never felt so welcomed in my life. When we arrived, there was a table spread out with food, and as soon as I sat down they kept giving me gifts and food, non-stop. It was amazing. When we finished eating, they took us all to a convenience store and bought us cigarettes and more gifts. The Japanese hospitality is unmatchable," said Staff Sgt. Ricardo Domenech, Company B, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt., squad leader. Most of the host families took in three Soldiers, while one group had as many as 10. Spc. Tiffany Reid, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt., medical specialist, was part of the 10-Soldier group. "Our host was a female owner of a construction company. We went to a huge house that also included her office. She had a party room with a karaoke machine. I sang Weak by SWV. This was definitely the highlight of my trip to Japan," Reid said. This was a chance for some Soldiers to interact with Japanese families for the first time in their lives. "It was my first time interacting with a Japanese family it was pretty exciting for me. The family was extremely nice and open-hearted. I can't wait to tell my wife and kids about this experience," said Staff Sgt. Damon Brody, HHC, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt., intelligence analyst. The families gave the Soldiers an understanding about Japanese culture while some of the Soldiers tried to give them pieces of theirs. "I gave them some chocolate covered macadamia nuts and now I wish I had given them more. I told them about the sports I like to play, and I could have said more about myself, but I was more interested in their lives," said Spc. Chris Juaraz, HHC, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt., radio telephone operator for the Scout Platoon. The Soldiers had two hours with their Japanese hosts and when it was time to leave, taxis picked them up and drove them back to the gymnasium. Solders met up with their friends and each had a different story to tell about their night. "This is what it's all about getting to know another culture and sharing your experiences," said Domenech. |
