Thick clouds grew in the gunmetal gray sky — a promise of snow in the chilly air outside Jennifer and Neil Chaudhary’s home in southern Newtown. But inside around the kitchen table, the atmosphere couldn’t have been warmer.

Bursts of laughter erupted amid teasing and camaraderie as family members and their visitor, Moana Yamagishi — an exchange student from Japan — shared how they’ve been getting to know one another since Moana’s arrival in September.

“I’m interested in learning English and a different culture and tradition, so I decided to come,” said Moana, 17. Here until July 4, she’s a sophomore at Newtown High School, where Jennifer and Neil’s daughter, Maya, is a senior.

The two have grown close.

“It was really easy to make friends, despite not speaking the same language,” Maya said. “We didn’t need to talk. I don’t know … We just vibe.

“I was worried we wouldn’t have anything in common, but it’s fine,” she added. “We watch Disney movies together, and cartoons. We do puzzles and play video games.” The girls have bonded over games like Minecraft and Fortnite.

Maya’s brother, Evan, recently home on a college break, said it’s been nice getting to know his family’s guest.

“It’s been fun to play Mario Kart or whatever with three people,” and everyone is gaining a new appreciation for the nuances of language, he added.

Moana is visiting through a Rotary International student exchange program. Jennifer, president of the organization’s Newtown club, said she has wanted to embark on this kind of adventure for a while.

As a child, Jennifer had a family member who hosted a student from Brazil.

“They’re still friends,” she said.

“It was such an enriching experience, I thought, ‘That’s something that would be important for our kids to experience. Once I made sure it was OK with Maya [since it’s her senior year], then we just went for it.”

Jennifer and Neil, both active community members, own a traffic safety research firm. They also love to travel, and said they wanted to host Moana for the same reasons Moana wanted to visit the United States: to learn about a new culture.

“We’re learning from her, too,” Neil said. “We’re constantly asking her, ‘Is this different from Japan? Is that different from Japan?’”

Moana hails from Kanazawa, Ishikawa, a cultural hub on the coast of the Sea of Japan. It’s known for its historical charm, stunning gardens, gold leaf art, and fresh seafood, among other attractions.

And yes, it snows there, so Newtown’s wintry weather hasn’t surprised Moana. But seeing the Statue of Liberty and Times Square, plus the Radio City Rockettes and Hamilton, well, that’s all very new.

When asked if she enjoyed the Rockettes, Moana replied with an ear-to-ear smile.

More outings are planned, museums and concerts — one by alt-rock artist Yungblud, another the singer-songwriter and rapper Ashnikko.

Meanwhile, Moana and Maya enjoy K-pop. And Maya introduced Moana to Sabrina Carpenter’s style of pop.

Moana said she’s been studying English for years, but wants to improve her fluency, and plans to become a flight attendant.

With help from a translation app on Neil’s cell phone she shared more, including that she has two brothers (one older, one younger), and chats daily with her family via messaging.

In The Beginning

Was she nervous about leaving her home in Japan to come here?

“Yes, but I was excited to come,” said Moana, whose dad — a Rotary International member — suggested the exchange program to her.

She flew 13 hours to get here, and Maya’s glad she did.

“It’s fun,” Maya said. “I like introducing her to all my friends, and I get someone to hang out with…”

Maya also enjoys introducing Moana to new experiences. When Maya worked on costumes for the high school’s fall production of Clue, she took Moana along to get a feel for the backstage process.

Moana said the Chaudharys were welcoming from the start. When asked if she recalled her first impression of them, she smiled warmly and said, “Nice!”

Her Newtown High School teachers have helped, too (with translation assistance), especially her biology and English teachers.

But of course, there have been challenges, especially the first days.

“We had to figure out how to communicate,” Neil said. “It was strange. I think that’s fair to say.”

Jennifer agreed. She was especially concerned with making sure Moana was comfortable, she said, that she felt like family.

“I was worried she wouldn’t ask for things. I wanted to make sure she was comfortable in our home and with food and those sorts of things. I still worry a bit.”

Connecting Over Food

As it turns out, Jennifer was well prepared. Moana has become more comfortable speaking up, and they’re all experimenting with food, which has helped them bond.

Bantering around the table, Moana said steak is her favorite. Neil teased, “What about Indian food?!”

Neil said, “I was disappointed because the first day she was here I said, ‘Do you like Indian food?’ We all love Indian food, and she said, ‘No.’

“So we got Indian food — something with noodles — and she ended up trying it. She likes it! Now we’ve converted her, so she can stay!”

Laughter ensued. Jennifer said Moana is an adventurous eater, which is great.

“And I tried sushi, which I’d never really tried before,” Neil said. “I’m starting to like it.”

Moana is adventurous at school, too. She tried out for the basketball team and made it. Unfortunately, she injured her knee at the second home game. But she’s recovering.

The Most Difficult Part

When asked about her biggest challenges, Moana said, “English and making friends.”

Initiating conversations is difficult. And she’ll have to repeat her sophomore year in Japan because she’s considered an “auditor” here.

But still, Moana said she’s happy in Newtown, and will encourage her friends in Japan to give this experience a chance.

“The most challenging part is definitely school,” she said. “It’s tough to understand the classes and make friends, but I’m trying to take initiative and put myself out there.”

Language Lessons

Evan said being around Moana, he’s been thinking about how “the beauty of languages is underestimated.” He’s also seeing how it can be easier to learn a language when you’re immersed in it. And he’s glad to be part of that.

“When you know two languages, you can look in between them and appreciate what’s actually happening within your own language,” Evan said. “If you only speak one, you can’t compare it to anything … Like maybe you wouldn’t be able to appreciate the grammar…”

Or the nuances between certain words, Neil said. Or the double meanings of words, and origins, said Jennifer.

Soon everyone around the table was talking at once, offering funny examples about “butt” versus “but,” and “burger” versus “booger.” More laughter followed.

“You know, you actually come to appreciate how difficult English is,” Neil said. “One of the things I caught myself doing one day one was using colloquial phrases. That doesn’t translate, so I had to start speaking in plain English.”

A phrase like, “I’m gonna hit the road,” can be confusing, Evan said. “Yeah,” Neil said, “when you say, ‘I’m going to hit the road,’ what kind of sense does that make?!”

About The Exchange Program

Rotary Youth Exchange is organized and run through Rotary International, a global network of volunteers promoting peace and understanding.

“Essentially, they’ll have a request for a student who wants to participate, usually from a Rotary family from another country, and then Rotary International will put a request out to local clubs asking if they’re interested in sponsoring a student,” Jennifer said.

“If so, that club searches for host families. Once that’s secured, Rotary International’s team handles all the coordination to get the student here,” she continued. “The exchange family takes care of all travel needs. The sponsoring club gives the exchange student a monthly stipend while they’re in the US.”

In June, Moana will have an opportunity to visit the West Coast. She’ll spend two weeks with other exchange students exploring the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, and California.

Rotary International’s whole program is well organized, Neil said, recalling how Moana met another girl from Japan during orientation.

“There’s a bunch of [exchange students] all over Connecticut, and they all get together,” he said.

Parents who serve as hosts are required to take online classes to prepare, Jennifer said.

“The classes are quite extensive … about having her here and keeping her safe,” she explained.

Unexpected Perspectives

Moana said something she’s found surprising here is just “how kind people are.”

Meanwhile, Neil said he’s been surprised by the depth of the experience his family is having as hosts.

“You know she’s an exchange student but you don’t appreciate that it’s a cultural exchange both ways,” he said. “I expected that Moana would come and learn about our culture and the United States and things like that, but how much we’re learning about Japan and her culture is very satisfying. It really gives me a perspective I didn’t expect.”

There’s lots of back and forth. For example, Maya and Moana are watching the Japanese anime series Demon Slayer.

“We watch it in Japanese so she can understand it and I read the subtitles,” said Maya, who’s picked up some Japanese phrases, but declined to share one aloud.

“It’s hard!” said Maya, adding she’d prefer to return the conversation’s focus back to food.

“Well, food’s the important thing,” Neil said, agreeing cuisine and music are great paths for connection.

“That’s where the exchange is happening between them,” he said. “Moana sings along with songs in English.”

“I sing along with Japanese songs. I don’t know what I’m saying!” Maya said.

Neil asked, “Moana, do you understand what you’re saying when you’re singing?”

“No!” she said. And the laughter flowed again.

“Music really has been a big thing, and just being together, just sitting and being friends,” Jennifer said.

“You know, we’re lucky. I think it’s a great experience that everyone should really be open-minded about. It’s strange to open your house; sometimes it feels weird, but once you do, it’s worth it.”

Linda Tuccio-Koonz is a Newtown resident and longtime journalist whose work has appeared in newspapers, magazines and books.