Japanese wowed by space

Mitch Wraspir, son of Brian and Debbie Wraspir and grandson of Harley and Apryl Wraspir, accompanied 10 Japanese students from Eastern Washington University to Odessa.

Mitch is a student at EWU with a minor in Japanese. He is an IPA, an International Peer Advisor. The students were: (by first names) Hayato, Moma, Yushi, Yoshitaka, Shota, Tatsuya, Ryota Ena, Chimatsu and Rhina, who are all from the Tokyo area of Japan.

They visited the Odessa Schools where they enjoyed the playground, story pit and the class pictures. They commented on the lack of locks on the lockers.

The group then caravanned to the Gale Braun farm where Kami and Kelby Braun showed them around. The students climbed on the machines and were amazed at the size. They said the combine was “American-sized.”They were also amazed at how quiet it was there.

After a barbeque lunch, it was off to Grand Coulee Dam. Many pictures were taken on the whole trip, but one was just of a long, straight road with no cars or houses nearby. Asked why, the student said, “You would never see that in Japan.”

The group thoroughly enjoyed their trip to Odessa.