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IllUSTRATION BY RIC DEL ROSSI
Though rom different worlds, these pen pals proved lhal jirs like much the same things.
sure Kiyoko's parents would toll us," Mom said.
"And as for Carol traveling that distance alone
well, she's 18 years old, she has a tongue in her
mouth, and she knows whore she's going."
I was real proud of myself when Mom said that.
I had never been more than 250 miles from Lon
donderry in my life. I had never been in an air
plane. And until I took off for Tokyo, I had never
been so much on my own or so thoroughly ex
cited in all my life.
When we landed in Tokyo, Kiyoko and her par
ents were there to greet me at the airport. I rec
ognized her immediately and she spotted me,
too. It was like greeting an old friend, even though .,
our friendship had existed only on paper.
Thereafter, it was like a fairy tale come true.
Kiyoko's family maintained a true Japanese home
shoes off before entering; eat with chopsticks;
sleep on a stony, or straw mattress. I loved every
minute of it, and within a few days I felt like one
of the Tanaka family.
Kiyoko and I went sight-seeing. We swam at
Motosu Lake, and made plans to climb Mount
Fuji but gave that up when our ambitious pro
gram left us exhausted.
Of course, throughout my month's stay, Kiyoko
and I pounced on every spare minute to talk, talk,
talk. Kiyoko's English was excellent now because
her father had engaged a tutor, and we were able
to expand on many of the things we had only
skimmed over in the letters.
As my visit drew to a close, Kiyoko was packed
and ready to take off for America. It was also
her first trip away from home, and her eyes were
filled with teat's when we boarded the plane. We
stopped for three days in Hawaii, and when we
reached California we visited my aunt and uncle t
in North Ridge for a week. Kiyoko giggled with
delight as we took in such things as Disneyland
and the Hollywood movie studios, and made a
quick trip to Mexico.
I knew our friends and neighbors in New Hamp
shire planned to go really all-out in their welcome
for Kiyoko, so we decided to dun Japanese kimonos
before our plane landed at Manchester. Kiyoko
was almost overwhelmed by our Yankee greeting.
We were personally welcomed by the mayor and a
the governor, and it seemed as if we shook hands
with half the people of New Hampshire.
Before Kiyoko went home, we took her on a
grand tour that included New York City, the
United Nations, Jones Beach, and all the important
places in Washington, D.C. Thanks to organizations
like Letters Abroad and World Education, we were
greeted by various dignitaries along the way. We
even had lunch with the Japanese ambassador to
the United States.
After more than two months of daily companion
ship, Kiyoko and I agreed that we were a pair of
18-year-olds who were pretty much alike for alt
the differences in our nationalities, culture, and
background. We agreed on our likes and dislikes
in food, clothing, boy friends, entertainment, and
movie stars. And we both decided that we'll wait
at least five years before we marry.
But more important, we agreed that the peoples
of the world would have a much better chance of
living in peace if more people from opposite ends
of the earth could get to know each other the way
we have that the pen, as the saying goes, can be
much mightier than the sword.
Family Weekly. January I, 1961
15