Help 2000 students from US & Japan connect online!

"Sensei, mite mite!!!” (Teacher, look look!!!) proclaimed a student as she proudly held up her large, perfectly formed onigiri (rice ball). Another student, with a smile on his face, was determined to eat his wasabi-covered onigiri that his friends challenged him to gobble up. It’s fair to say the teens had a fun day in Japanese class learning to make onigiri, a traditional homemade Japanese food.

Students participating in Global Classmates have been interacting online in various ways with their partner classmates for a little over two months now. They’ve been discussing different topics such as the music and movies they like, their favorite snacks, and different school events they’ve had this fall. To provide students additional ways to collaborate online, Kizuna Across Cultures partnered this year with the non-profit Table For Two and their Onigiri Action Campaign. For every onigiri photo that students post, five meals will be provided to children in need in Asia and Africa. We at KAC are excited to see how many meals we can send to children in need as a Global Classmates community by the November 30th deadline!

While many Global Classmates students are participating in this fantastic campaign, I was lucky enough to join in on a fun-filled class of making onigiri at Silver Creek High School in San Jose, California! Students made all types of onigiri with a variety of ingredients, some traditionally Japanese, and others very American. There was: tuna mayo (mayonnaise), Spam, teriyaki chicken, umeboshi (pickled plum), and avocado and crab, among others. They were as delicious as they were enjoyable to make! It was a great way for the students to come together as a community for a cause, while getting a hands-on lesson in Japanese culture.

For details about this campaign and to learn how you can participate, check out the Onigiri Action website at:  http://jp.tablefor2.org/campaign/onigiri/en/