Cell Phone Photos Can Break Down International Barriers in a Snap

There is nothing quite as well understood as is communication through am electronic device like the I-Phone.

This week, 17 students from the Sacred Heart Academy school in Susono, Japan (an hour an a half outside Tokyo) paid a visit to St. Louis and Villa Duchesne Oak Hill in particular.

This tradition has gone on some 17 or so years. This visit is about as predictable as the torrid summer heat reining down on this region. By the end of July, the tour bus is pulling up to the campus for another group visit.

A half dozen Villa juniors and seniors serve as Ambassadors, welcoming their teen counterparts to their campus in Frontenac.

The I-phone is a great ice breaker. The girls huddled over their cell phones, sharing pictures of their pets and family members.The politeness and formalities melted rapidly in the summer heat.

Though the visitors spoke precious little English, the pictures were more than adequate to stimulate an animated dialogue.

Carol Pfitzinger,  affiliated as shrine director of the Academy of St. Philippine Duchesne in St. Charles is their official tour guide once again.

The visitors will spend time with St. Louis host families. Hot or not, the visitors are scheduled for trips  to Cardinals baseball; the Muny Opera, a city tour including the St. Louis Arch, and a side trip to Hannibal. The duration of the stay is two weeks.

Emily Kellerhaus, Villa Duchesne senior was one of the ambassadors.

“I did this last year. I got to know the girls really well. They are all so cute,” said Kellerhals. They like American things and entertainers,” rattling off the names of pop singers like Taylor Swift and others.

Yuki, a 17 year old from Susono related some of her experiences. “It is really hot and humid here, but St. Louis is very beautiful.” Yuki said one of the things she really likes is studying opera.

Mihoko, 16 was making her visit to America “The girls here are really cute. This is summer time so we are out of school. I do miss my family a little bit, but we will have a lot of fun visiting here,” she said.

The girls dined on pizza, cookies and fresh fruit and exchanged giggles, laughs and gestures. The cultures were coming together at the rapid rate of a cell phone call.

These are the students who serve as Villa Duchesne Ambassadors:

Kelly Meyer, junior; Emily Kellerhals, senior, Kimmy Schlafly, senior, Sarah Sutherlin, senior and Mara Brown, senior.