Ms.Keiko Miyabayashi

Congratulations to the City of Walla Walla and TambaSasayama City on the 50th anniversary of their sister city affiliation.

More than 20 years have passed since I first visited Walla Walla when I was a high school student. I have visited Walla Walla three times in the past and have been a host family several times. Each time I visit and each time I welcome them, my memories of Walla Walla grow, and the relationship with Walla Walla is still a part of my life.

Nowadays, we can keep in touch with each other through social networking sites, so even though we are far away from each other, we can see the daily lives of our friends in Walla Walla, and we always feel free to send messages to each other.

In the spring of 2019, before the coronavirus epidemic, my friend, my son and I traveled to Seattle. On that trip, Barbara and Keith, who live in Walla Walla, came to Seattle to meet us. I fondly remember how happy we were to see them again in a place that was neither TambaSasayama nor Walla Walla. We walked the streets of Seattle together, ate, laughed, and slept. That fall, I hosted her again in TambaSasayama.

My teacher, who had accompanied me on a short-term exchange program to Walla Walla when I was in high school, told me that, “I believe that when bonds are created in this way we are linked to one another and a large network is formed. Exchange will take root among people even if the formal title of sister city is removed." As he said, my family and I are truly grateful for the many friends from TambaSasayama that we have met through the Walla Walla connection, and for the lifelong friends we have made across the sea.

I hope that the exchange between the two cities will continue for many years to come so that our children's generation will be able to develop new friendships.