DAVIS COUNTY—Years ago, the great poet and activist Maya Angelou wrote, “I note the obvious differences between each sort and type, but we are more alike my friends, than we are unalike.” One extremely valuable way in which Davis County residents can experience both these differences and similarities is being made possible through a cultural exchange program by the nonprofit, Mountain West Cultural Exchange (MWCE).

Many people in the region are familiar with exchange student programs, where students can come from all over the world to experience American culture, and vice versa. The cultural exchange program from MWCE is a similar take, but instead of exchanging ideas of education, Utahns can exchange ideas of culture, specifically from the nation of Japan. 

“This experience makes the world a smaller place,” Maresa Manzione, Chair of MWCE, said. “A lot of families in Utah aren’t going to be able to go to Japan in their lifetime – but by bringing these delegates to your home, the experience comes to you.” The cultural exchange program allows for Utah families to host boys and girls from Japan, and learn more about their culture while teaching these visitors about American culture at the same time.

Families can learn about Japanese traditions and customs, eat Japanese food, and often, receive small gifts of appreciation from their visiting delegate. In turn, these boys and girls from Japan can experience living in Utah, visiting the mountains, the sweeping vistas of Moab, taking in the local cuisine, and finding out a day in the life of an average kid from Utah. 

Though the program timeframe is limited, the experiences and friendships can last a lifetime. Bailee Merrill, whose family hosted an exchange delegate, Maiko almost 10 years ago, said they still keep in touch. Merrill was even able to visit Maiko in Tokyo recently, “I’m so grateful my family hosted exchange students when I was younger,” Bailee said. “It helped me look outside my little Utah bubble and know the world is much larger than it appears, and that cultures all over the world have something to teach me. It was incredible to visit Maiko in Japan and have our paths come full circle.”

The summer program applications are now open and runs from July 23 – Aug 7. Application and hosting are both free. Host families are required to have at least one child so the exchange delegate has a friend their age. Applications can be made, and more information, including information about being a teen mentor in the program, can be found by visiting mwce.website, their Facebook page: Mountain West Cultural Exchange, or their Instagram: @mwexchange.