MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Not knowing what to expect, approximately 14 local service members nervously made their way up a staircase to a classroom filled with curious Japanese children awaiting their arrival.
The children’s eyes widened in amazement as the service members timidly stepped into the room and took their seats.
Although some of the children shyly hid and peeked from behind their classmates as they sat facing the group of Marines and sailors, the children were about to prove they were less timid than the service members.
Station service members visited Marifu Hoikuen, a Japanese kindergarten school in downtown Iwakuni Feb. 18.
The visiting service members spent the morning teaching the children how to count in English through dancing and games.
“I think the event brings children a great opportunity to get familiar with the English language,” said Teako Sakai, Marifu Hoikuen principal. “It’s not a typical table-top study. Kids are getting English through play in a natural way. I think it is a wonderful thing.”
Sakai said she believed the event was also a good thing for the service members to experience.
“I think this is the beginning of a cultural exchange,” said Sakai. “Marines can see the culture first-hand with (their) own eyes.”
Before the service members began to teach and play with the children, the Marines and sailors nervously sat in their chairs looking across the room at the kneeling children staring back at them with curious eyes.
“I was nervous,” said Pfc. Eboni Waiters, a Marine Aircraft Group 12 warehouse clerk. “I was like ‘Ooh, they’re all staring at me’.”
The service members looked about them in amazement as the children stood up and ran to them after the classroom teacher announced it was time to dance and play a game.
Waiters said it was nothing like she expected. “I didn’t expect them to be so open,” she added.
The laughing children pulled the Marines and sailors by the hand as they created a big circle in the classroom.
The service members began to have fun as children’s music started to play and they marched in a circle hand-in-hand with the children.
As soon as the music stopped, the teacher yelled out an English number and the children scuttled about pulling the laughing service members behind them to get into groups with people equaling the number that was called out.
The Marines and sailors helped the children count in English the number of people they needed in their group.
“It was real fun. It was lots of fun,” said Waiters. “Getting to see the kids’ expressions and to see how quickly they learned the numbers and how excited they were to see us – it was the best.”
As the service members began to feel more at ease, they began to scoop up the laughing children in their arms holding them flailing and giggling in the air.
The children excitedly swarmed the service members, wanting to be lifted up and tiring the laughing Marines and sailors.
“All in all it was great,” said Waiters. “I had a really great experience.”
Winded and tired, the service members handed out candy to the children before they left, thanking them for the fun.
“(The experience has) opened my eyes a lot more,” said Waiters. “The thing I’ll remember the most is their smiles.”