Regina exchange program brings father and son full circle

More than a quarter century after an exchange trip to Japan changed the direction of his life, a Regina father is watching his son begin the same journey.

Gilbert Proulx was in Grade 8 back in 2000 when he joined the Regina-Fujioka Student Exchange Program. Now, his son Tristan Proulx is participating in the program and their family is hosting Yuto Ushii, a student from Fujioka, Japan.

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“It’s 100 per cent full circle,” Gilbert said. “It’s just so surreal for me to be on the other end of it as a parent.”

Twenty-five young people from Fujioka travelled to Regina this summer where they stayed with billet families. During their 10-day visit, the students toured the RCMP Heritage Centre, Regina City Hall and the Saskatchewan Legislative Building.

The program brings together Grade 7 and 8 students from Regina Public Schools and the Regina Catholic School Division. Regina participants host their Japanese counterparts during the first summer of the two-year program before travelling to Fujioka for their own 10-day trip the following year.

“It was really my first time experiencing a different culture, and I just fell in love with Japan,” Gilbert said. “I fell in love with Japanese culture, and it kind of shaped who I’ve become as a person.”

After returning to Regina, Gilbert said he set a goal of going back to Japan to teach English. He pursued an education degree, became a teacher and eventually fulfilled that goal in the same Japanese prefecture where Fujioka is located.

He has also travelled with students as a teacher chaperone and spent about 15 years on the exchange program’s board of trustees.

“I always say it’s life-changing, and it really was,” Gilbert said. “I can almost guarantee I wouldn’t be here today if I hadn’t had this program.”

A new member of the family

Hosting Yuto has allowed Gilbert to experience the exchange from a parent’s perspective.

“It has brought so much joy into our household to see them interact, but to have him become a member of our family as well,” he said. “The more we get to know him, the more he opens up. We get to see his personality shine.”

The language barrier has occasionally made communication challenging, but Gilbert said the two students have found ways to understand each other using translation technology, gestures and their shared interests.

Tristan and Yuto spent their time playing video games, basketball and volleyball. They also attended an overnight camp, where the students tried archery and water activities and spent time stargazing.

“Camping was really fun, but the sleep wasn’t,” Tristan said. “I was really happy to come back and sleep in my bed.”

Yuto said camping and the group activities were among his favourite parts of the trip.

Food also became an important part of the experience.

Yuto tried poutine, roast beef and a Canadian version of a traditional Japanese breakfast featuring maple salmon. According to the family, spaghetti served on his first night in Regina remained his favourite meal.

Yuto also brought Japanese snacks for his hosts to sample, giving Tristan some ideas about what to look forward to when he travels overseas.

Asked what he was most excited to experience in Japan, Tristan had a quick answer: Japanese KitKat bars.

“Matcha, melon, strawberry,” he said. “Really good.”

Preparing for the return trip

Tristan said his interest in the exchange grew from hearing his father’s stories and learning about Japanese culture at home.

“My dad did this program when he was about my age, and I just thought this was really interesting,” he said.

He will begin taking Japanese lessons in the fall before travelling to Fujioka in August 2027. He expects to stay with Yuto’s family, allowing the two students to spend time together again.

Students and their families are raising money for the trip through bingos, bottle drives, hot dog sales and other events. Tristan said his mother has also helped fundraise by creating and selling pet portraits.

Participation requires more than submitting a name. Gilbert said applicants complete an essay, provide teacher references and take part in an interview with their parents before the group is selected.

“Anyone who applies, in my opinion, they’ve already done the work,” Gilbert said. “It’s pretty competitive, so we do our best to kind of whittle it down to the best 25.”

Although Gilbert wanted his son to participate, he said the decision and effort belonged to Tristan alone.

“I never pushed this on him,” Gilbert said. “Obviously I wanted him to have this experience, but he did all of this on his own, and I’m very, very proud of him for the work that he put in.”

The family planned a farewell gathering before Yuto’s departure, complete with an ice cream cake, a tradition Gilbert’s parents began when their family hosted a Japanese student 26 years ago.

Tristan said the visit seemed to end almost as soon as it began.

“It literally feels like yesterday he just was walking down the escalator at the airport,” he said.

For Yuto, his final message to the city was a simple one.

“Regina, arigato,” he said.

Thank you, Regina.