From the moment I landed in America, my heart was pained to see; police being rude to foreigners, unclean airports, and to my disappointment, the car that picked me up was anything but high class.

The people of Osaka spoiled me, they made me feel like a king, anywhere I wanted to go they helped me get there, anything I wanted to do, they allowed me to. They even allowed me to take the Hankyu line to Kyoto with a schoolmate I happened to run into. My host mother is the nicest person I have met.

Every meal was cooked and prepared with the utmost care, my host mom even went out of her way to serve me bread at every breakfast. I really miss all of the special treatment; at home I am just a plain American. I am also envious for next year’s winner, they will also be treated with unbelievable respect, plus they get the chance to visit one of the most unique countries in the entire world.

© 2006 Gabriel Dominguez. All Rights Reserved.
Printed with permission by The San Francisco-Osaka Sister City Association
www.sf-osaka.org