I have been to Obu twice. Both times have been as a representative of St Kilda Primary School and in relation to its relationship with Ishigase Primary School.

My first visit was in 1996, and involved a wonderful action-packed weekend homestay with a fantastic local family (the Ito family - who offered me the very best of hospitality) - as well as a couple of days in a community hostel/hotel. My second visit was a brief day trip in 2004 - to coincide with the first visit from staff and students from St Kilda Primary School and Ishigase Primary School.

During both of my visits to Obu, it has been clearly apparent that the community spirit was alive and well - by the way so many people were involved in welcoming us, and even by the way people came up to speak to us in the street. Perhaps even especially those in the community who helped by giving directions to us when we were lost trying to find the 100yen shop to do some last minute bargain hunting.

It may seem strange, but the hardest thing to get used to was the overwhelming generosity of the people met.

Although I've never been good at keeping contact with the people I've been fortunate to meet, the overall sense of having a 'connection' with the people in Obu remains strong. And in my case I have been able to meet a wide variety of people over time and in various settings, both in Melbourne and in Obu. I remember being thoroughly surprised when I met someone in Melbourne who knew of my 1996 karaoke 'performance' in Obu (which will never be repeated).

Over the years of my involvement, I have seen the relationship between St Kilda Primary School and Ishigase Primary School develop from the initial idea, to that of 'informal' visits by parents and students of both schools, to the level it is now, of official visits (including students) by St Kilda Primary School - who have always been warmly welcomed by Ishigase Primary School. Much of the work supporting and fostering this relationship has been achieved by the multiple dynamic connections and relationships between the cities of Port Phillip and Obu, between Elwood College and Obu Higashi High School, St Kilda Primary School and Ishigase Primary School, as well as perhaps more indirectly, even those links between Aichi and Victoria.