The purpose of the program is to send young people to other countries to serve as ambassadors for the United States and learn about other cultures. California has two locations from which the program is based. Students from Bakersfield are sent to European countries; Sacramento sends students to Japan.

McCollough is not quite sure why she was chosen because People to People did not give the exact reason behind the selection, but it starts with an invitation for an interview. When McCollough received her invitation for the chance to visit Europe, she did some research and discovered that Japan was also a destination. The drawback was that she had to travel to Sacramento for the interview and make monthly trips for nine months in order to complete the numerous pre-trip assignments.

McCollough is sure S.A.T. scores came into play, but she said the ability to be independent plays a major roll. During these trips to Sacramento her mom, Gina McCollough, who accompanied her, was kept pretty much in the dark as to the nature of the assignments. This helped to Shandra maintain the independence she would need while traveling abroad.

L-R Fellow Ambassador Sarah, Shandra, fellow Ambassadors Kelsey and Kyra, students from the middle school in which they visited, Kento, Kento and Takuma.

When these kids get to their foreign destinations, mom and dad will not be there and they must be able to think and act independently as they travel and communicate with the Japanese people. Shandra had to complete written assignments on pre-selected subjects about the Japanese culture.

She also had projects such as learning the language. Key phrases such as “Excuse me,” which can also imply “sorry” or “thank-you,” depending on the circumstances, is imperative. Shandra also liked “Where is the bank?” She mastered the art of using chopsticks long before she left and says she still prefers them to a knife and fork, “except for soup, of course.” Thirty-three students from California were in the group; 31 from the Sacramento area, one from Arizona and Shandra from Kern Valley. Her itinerary was very rigid while there and a journal of her travels was required. This included entries of her first impression of Tokyo, a visit to Mt. Fuji and picking green tea leaves. The first three days were spent in Tokyo, then on to Hakone, Gifu, Home Stay, Hiroshima and Kyoto.

While in Home Stay they stayed with a Japanese family who owned a Bed and Breakfast to observe and be part of the Japanese lifestyle. And as is the custom, Shandra brought her host a gift she had purchased at the Kern Valley Museum before she left. The horse tapestry was a big hit with the host, who had a dear friend who had ridden in a horse club with the Emperor of Japan when he was the Crown Prince.

Shandra has been fascinated by the Japanese culture for what she says seems like forever. Poki-mon, Yu-gi-oh and Nintendo along with Japanese cartons “Anime” such as Speed Racer were just the beginning that inspired Shandra's interest into the Japanese culture, history, music and geography. Of course, no 15 1/2-year-old can pass up rock music and in Japan nothing is hotter than J-Rock. In fact, on weekends the local teens, and also the not-so teens anymore, dress up like the rock stars they refer to as “Visual Kie Style,” and gather in a part of Tokyo's fashion district known as Harajuku. There are vending machines everywhere and the vehicles are very small compared to the United States she observed. She said, “The Japanese are very friendly and respectful to Americans and love to take pictures of us, especially if they found out we were from California, Texas of New York.”

Summing up sightseeing, Shandra laughed and said, “Japan has lots of temples, and shrines, and castles-oh my!” McCollough will begin her junior year at Kern Valley High in August. Her goal after graduation is to attend Monterey College and study graphic and web design. She is working at L & M Lumber part-time over the summer helping her grandpa and dad keep their computers in top shape.

Ultimately, she would love to return to Japan and maybe even live there for a while - maybe even long term. Shandra's mom and dad are Ryan and Gina McCollough, grandparents are Darlene Meek and Del and Kathy McCollough and her 11-year-old pesky brother, Logan. Shandra asked me to send a message to a very special person in her life at the end of my article so from Sandra, “Robinson's a nin-JA!”