Japanese Ambassador Hosts Huntington Students
Huntington High School sophomores Madison Jaye LoFaso and Charles Beers and their social studies teacher, Camille Tedeschi, recently visited Japanese Ambassador Shigeyuki Hiroki's official residence in Manhattan for a formal lunch meeting.
The students and their teacher were invited to the home after Ms. LoFaso earned first place in Stony Brook University's eighth annual Japan Center essay competition. Mr. Beers won one of four Merit Awards in the contest, which was sponsored by Canon USA. The competition drew 199 entries from 32 metropolitan area high schools and colleges.
Mr. LoFaso was honored for her work, No Stroll in the Park about the John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden in Mill Neck. Mr. Beers garnered recognition for his essay, Putting Things into Perspective: Lessons from the Far East. Ms. LoFaso was presented with a $3,000 award stipend and a Canon camera. Mr. Beers' earned a $200 prize.
"I was honored to be invited to the ambassador's private residence in New York City," Mr. Beers said. "Not only was I overwhelmed by his amazing home, but I was also impressed by the ambassador himself. A gracious and generous host, Ambassador Hiroki was determined to make us feel comfortable in his home and share aspects of his culture with his teenage guests. It was an experience I will never forget."
Ms. Tedeschi met her two students at the LIRR's Huntington train station and rode with them into New York City. "Typically it is only the place winners who get invited, but the program coordinator was so impressed with the work of our students that she asked Charles (a Merit Award recipient] to attend as well," Ms. Tedeschi said.
In addition to Ms. LoFaso and Mr. Beers, Huntington students Santiago Alzate, Kaitlin Dayton and John Reilly advanced to the finals in the Japan Center essay competition. Hanna Murphy and Daniella Schoen reached the semi-finals.
The invitation to share a meal at the Japanese ambassador's residence was thrilling for the Huntington students and their teacher. "The luncheon is a way to help keep everyone in the program connected and in a position to learn about Japan and make connections that are more personal," Ms. Tedeschi said. "We arrived at the apartment and walked in to a sight that was indescribable. It was like walking into a lavish palace with gold and beautiful artwork everywhere."
The Huntington contingent arrived first and waited silently and in awe in a reception room within the residence. "We then started talking about how amazing it was to be where we were," Ms. Tedeschi said. "We were served beverages and as others arrived the ambassador and his wife greeted us and were very friendly. They were both down to earth and very welcoming. We presented the ambassador with a host gift which was a Huntington Blue Devils t-shirt. Then we went to sit at the formal dining room for lunch."
The guests were served a traditional Japanese lunch, including sesame tofu, tuna, fluke, tempura, simmered eggplant, pumpkin and turnip, miso soup, bamboo shoots rice and green tea bavarois for dessert.
"At the table the ambassador welcomed us and asked each of us to introduce ourselves and our experience with the competition and Japan," Ms. Tedeschi said. "As a teacher, this was a dream for me. My students were unbelievable and articulate with their words. I was so proud and honored to be by their side. Both students expressed a new interest in Japan that was inspired by me and this competition. Charles wants to be a writer and plans on writing about Japan and Maddie has a desire to travel and experience the country firsthand."
Over the course of lunch, the Huntington group conversed around the table with the other guests, including Yoroku Adachi, Canon USA's president and chief executive officer, Stony Brook University Japan Center president and chairman of the board Dr. Iwao Ojima and his wife, Yoko and Dr. Eriko Sato, a Japan Center board member who helped coordinate the Stony Brook essay competition. Once the meal was complete, it was time for photos and goodbyes.
"I know all of us are eager to be involved with the program again next year and hopefully be back at the lunch table with the ambassador," Ms. Tedeschi said.
The Huntington teacher has thoroughly enjoyed working with Dr. Sato each year during the essay competition. "Eriko Sato is one of the most wonderful people I have met," Ms. Tedeschi said. "She is an inspiration to all of us involved."