Main Street Moments: Strengthening Ties with Chinzei Gakuin
Ghost walk through downtown
Strengthening Ties with Chinzei Gakuin
In this week’s episode of Main Street Moments, host Maggie Blaine sat down to highlight the vibrant sister city partnership between Tennessee Wesleyan University (TWU) and Isahaya, Japan. Each summer, the program welcomes 20 Japanese students to McMinn County for two weeks of language learning, cultural exchange, and new friendships.A Growing Tradition of Exchange
The Chinzei Gakuin program, co-directed by Ursa, Dr. Betty Ruhlman, and Dr. Ana Barrios, has been a fixture on the TWU campus since 2019. This year, the program expanded to include more local student assistants, giving McMinn County youth the chance to take on active roles as cultural ambassadors.
During the interview, co-director David reflected on the differences between American and Japanese high schools, offering valuable context for how students adapt and learn from one another. The goal remains simple yet powerful: to create opportunities for cultural understanding and meaningful connection.
Community Voices
Hospitality played a key role in this year’s visit. Victoria White and her husband hosted a special dinner at Trinity United Methodist Church, where students finally met their American families they had been pen pals with over the past year. The evening, catered by Patriot Cakes, gave students and families a warm and welcoming space to deepen friendships, share stories, and celebrate the bonds built across oceans.
Victoria White, a member of the Athens Sister Cities Committee, shared her gratitude for being part of the experience:
“I have been so blessed to be included in these Chinzei Gakuin visits since 2019! It is an amazing opportunity for our local students to participate in ‘study abroad’ right here in McMinn County. I have loved getting to know all the students, but this year has been really special, as we had so many great kids from McMinn County get involved on the TWU campus with our visiting friends from Japan.”
Her words capture the spirit of the program — one that goes beyond textbooks and classrooms, reaching into the lives and hearts of both visiting and local students.
A Night on Main Street
As part of their visit, Main Street Athens hosted the students for an evening of desserts and a ghost walk through downtown. While some students may not have understood every word of the stories, they enjoyed exploring Athens’ historic district, sampling local sweets, and learning more about the community’s history. The event offered a fun and memorable way for the students to connect with our town and experience a piece of its culture firsthand.Looking Ahead
The program isn’t slowing down. Plans are already in motion to:
Host next year’s Chinzei Gakuin summer program
Expand student exchanges between Tennessee Wesleyan and Nagasaki Wesleyan
Develop a faculty exchange program, strengthening academic and cultural ties even further
With these steps, TWU and its sister city partners aim to deepen connections and provide even more opportunities for students and educators on both sides of the Pacific.
A Lasting Impact
As this year’s exchange concludes, the smiles, friendships, and shared experiences are proof that international understanding can flourish right here in McMinn County. From language learning to ghost stories on Main Street, the Chinzei Gakuin–TWU partnership continues to enrich lives and strengthen the bonds between Athens and Isahaya.L
We’re sharing the story of the Chinzei Gakuin–Tennessee Wesleyan University exchange program, where 20 students from Japan spent two weeks in McMinn County learning, exploring, and building lifelong friendships. From a ghost walk downtown with Main Street Athens to a pen pal dinner at Trinity United Methodist Church (catered by Patriot Cakes), it was a truly special experience for our community.🎧 Or stream the full episode anytime on Spotify here:
👉 https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/damnitmaggie/episodes/Main-Street-Moments-Strengthening-Ties-with-Chinzei-Gakuin-e3653tk
#MainStreetMoments #SisterCities #AthensTN #CulturalExchange
📻 Listen live tomorrow at 8:30 AM on WYXI
🎧 Or stream the full episode anytime on Spotify here:
👉 Spotify Link
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