In the Space Between

There are some experiences that teach students in a classroom. And then there are experiences that reshape how they see the world– and themselves.

This year marked the first time St. Andrew’s Episcopal School participated in the longrunning exchange partnership with Momoyama Gakuin High School, an established international program founded in 1972 through the National Association of Episcopal Schools. For more than five decades, the pioneering program has fostered international goodwill, cross-cultural understanding, and global citizenship by connecting students across cultures, languages, and continents. 

This year, four students had that experience: Misa and Kippei, who spent the year at St. Andrew’s, and Max H. ‘28 and George H. ‘28, who spent it in Japan. They returned with a broader view of the world, a deeper sense of themselves, and new lessons about identity, independence, empathy, and human connection. 

“The first year of the exchange program has been more successful than I could have imagined three years ago when I approached Mrs. Grubb about the possibility. Seeing the growth in Misa, Kippei, Max, and George has brought to life our mission,” said Associate Head of School Alice Nezzer ‘81.

Perhaps no one captured the spirit of the program more beautifully than Misa, an exchange student from Osaka, who reflected on the Japanese concept of ma - the meaningful pause or space between things.

“The in-between,” she shared in her school homily during chapel, “is actually where the most interesting things happen.” That space– between countries, languages, traditions, and perspectives– is where exchange students grow in remarkable ways.

For Misa, who was born in Korea and raised in Japan, coming to Texas added “yet another layer” to a life already shaped by multiple cultures. She described how living in Japan taught her attentiveness: students cleaning classrooms together each day, quiet acts of care, and a culture where silence itself carries meaning.

At St. Andrew’s, she encountered something equally meaningful but very different: openness, self-expression, and the encouragement to share one’s own voice.

“Japan taught me to listen deeply,” she reflected. “This year has taught me to speak honestly. And I think I needed both.”

Her fellow Osaka exchange student, Kippei, arrived with a similar background, describing the rigor and structure of Japanese schools – seven classes a day, mandatory subjects, constant exams. In his homily, he shared how differently American schools ask students to think about themselves. 

“In Japan,” he explained, “the question is often, ‘What’s the right answer?’ In the U.S., it’s ‘Who are you?’” That shift challenged him in unexpected ways. “At first, I felt uneasy without a clear ‘right answer,’” Kippei said. “I’ve started to gain confidence in having my own answers.”

Meanwhile, halfway across the world, St. Andrew’s students Max and George were navigating their own transformations in Osaka.

Max admitted he initially expected Japan to feel completely foreign and overwhelming. Instead, he discovered connection, belonging, and an unexpected sense of confidence and independence. Between hour-long bike-and-train commutes each day to school, navigating Osaka’s sprawling transit system, attending classes, and practicing rugby six days a week, he gradually learned to move through daily life with ease. He began comfortably communicating in a language he once barely understood and finding a rhythm that, before long, began to feel like home. 

What surprised him most was not the differences between people, but the similarities.

“Before I arrived in Osaka, I kept thinking: how are the people going to be different? Will I be able to relate to them? I assumed people from around the world would act entirely differently. But what I’ve come to realize is that humans are humans all over the world. Becoming more and more fluent in Japanese was extremely eye-opening because I got to truly see into a culture and experience things first hand.” 

George echoed that sentiment, describing the experience as “life-changing.” He spoke of becoming close with his host families, discovering independence while traveling Japan alone, also managing academic classes and rugby six days a week, and gaining a broader understanding of what it means to belong to a global community.

One memory stood out in particular: climbing a mountain in Nara alone at sunset after feeding the city’s sacred deer and exploring ancient temples.

“The combination of the view of Nara, the fall foliage, and the sunset ignited the spiritual bone in me,” he wrote. “I sat on the top of the mountain for about an hour contemplating how wonderful my time in Japan has been.”

Throughout their reflections, one theme emerges again and again: growth happens when students embrace curiosity. “This exchange gave George, Max, Kippei and Misa the opportunity to develop independence, empathy, and confidence in ways that only deep cultural immersion can provide,” said Nanami Russell, who coached Max and George in Japanese language and customs ahead of their departure to Osaka and supported Misa and Kippei during this school year.

“I’ve learned that it’s more important to make the most of each day than to be overly worried about the future,” reflected Misa on her experience in Austin and at St. Andrew’s. “I also realized that the future isn’t set in stone. There are many paths to take, and you don’t have to live your life following a strict formula.”

“The level of independence, self-awareness, and self-advocacy we've seen Max, George, Misa, and Kippei developing is simply remarkable,” remarked Exchange Program Director Joseph Schiller. Whether it is learning to communicate across language barriers, navigating an unfamiliar city alone, adapting to a host family’s traditions, or simply discovering new ways to think and listen, this exchange program invites students to become more thoughtful, resilient, and open-minded citizens of the world.

The program’s roots reflect exactly that mission. Momoyama Gakuin’s guiding philosophy–  “freedom and love”– emphasizes respect for individuality while encouraging students to serve and care for others. That spirit aligns naturally with St. Andrew’s own commitment to developing curious, courageous, and compassionate global citizens.

And perhaps that is what makes this exchange so extraordinary. Students learn how to live within another culture, form meaningful relationships, and return home changed by the experience. 

“If you feel even a small desire to experience the world beyond your own, I encourage you to pursue the opportunity without hesitation,” said Misa. Added Kippei, “The experience will be a treasure for life.”

“There are so many experiences in the world waiting to be discovered,” said Max, “but they only happen when you’re willing to be curious.” For students considering the Momoyama/St. Andrew’s Japanese Exchange Program, that curiosity may just lead to the most transformative year of their lives.