George Arbanas - one of the students in the first group of American students to travel to Ishinomaki back in 2014 - recently revisited Japan and returned with some wonderful news about the ongoing benefits of the TOMODACHI Program.

On Japan, George reconnected and spent a weekend with the Hayashi family, who hosted him at the end of the TOMODACHI trip four years ago.  Unfortunately, due to a snowstorm that hit a large part of Japan that weekend, he was unable to travel to Ishinomaki and visit everyone there. However, George also learned that he has been awarded a summer internship at a company called Education First in Tokyo.  He will return to Japan at the beginning of the summer 2018 and intends to take a personal trip to Ishinomaki following the end of his internship..  

This report from one of the TOMODACHI alumni is a welcome affirmation of the exchange program as a fulfillment of the mission of both JAS and the TOMODACHI Initiative. Way to go, George!