Students from Saroma, Japan visit Palmer for first time since 2019

PALMER — Palmer Junior Middle School celebrated the first arrival of student delegates from Saroma, Japan since 2019 during an assembly Monday, Sept. 11.

"What an awesome, awesome opportunity to have students from Japan over here, and we're going to show them a great time in Palmer," PJMS Principal Ryan Geagel said.

Guest speakers such as Palmer Mayor Steve Carrington, Mat-Su Borough Mayor Edna DeVries, and Mat-Su Borough School District Associate Superintendent of Instruction Dr. Justin Ainsworth attended the assembly to welcome the visiting students.

"We want to make this memorable for you," DeVries said.

Palmer and Saroma have been Sister Cities for over four decades.

Sister City programs are long term relationships between two cities from different counties. It's a long practiced tradition that's practiced across the country that promotes deep understanding and appreciation between the Sister Cities' unique cultures.

Palmer resident Edward Holmes brought Palmer and Saroma together in the 1980s, connecting the small Alaskan town to the small Japanese town.

"They established a relationship that has lasted decades and this is an illustration of that relationship," Ainsworth said.

Palmer High School has been participating in the Sister City program since 1991 and PJMS has been participating in the program since 2003, according to Ainsworth.

"It reminds us that relationships can extend across the world," Ainsworth said.

Palmer and Saroma students and teachers have held many successful exchanges since they became Sister Cities. Official delegations from each city are also sent overseas on a regular basis.

Palmer students recently returned from an 18 day trip to Saroma and shared their stories during the assembly. This was also a chance for the visiting Saroma students to talk about themselves and what they hope to see and learn during their time in Palmer.

Palmer High School language teacher Kai Carla Swick has been one of the main people spearheading Palmer's Sister City program through the group Palmer-Saroma Kai for many years.

"It's been a long friendship," Swick said.

The Saroma students will leave Palmer Wednesday, Sept. 20 after a farewell ceremony.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com