Your average Maplewoodian might be hard pressed to describe the differences between local clubs like the Lions, Rotary and Woman's Club.

But, one recent night at Cryan's, Rotary International's mission was crystal clear. The Rotary—the motto of which is "service over self"—is a volunteer organization with an international bent. Rotary Club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio—which is still rampant in Africa.

As a part of this international mission, each year the Rotary Club of Maplewood sends students abroad to learn about other cultures via Rotary Clubs in other countries. 

Maplewoodian Allison Hayes was supposed to go to Japan in 2009, but when the H1N1 flu outbreak occurred, her trip was cancelled. The 19-year-old University of Connecticut student rescheduled for three weeks in 2010 instead—June 24 through July 15—via the Rotary Club's Short Term Exchange Program. 

Upon returning, a dinner was held at Cryan's in South Orange for Hayes, to celebrate her return, hear about her experiences, and enjoy a slideshow of her photographs. 

Hayes lived with four different host families during her stay. She said that communication was hard, because her host families did not speak English, and she knew only the tiniest bit of Japanese. "Hand motions helped a lot," said Hayes, to an audience of local Rotary members.

While there, Hayes went to Rotary meetings and sat in classes at schools. But, above all, her favorite part was petting the wild deer that surrounded her in the streets of one small town where she visited.

Hayes also visited Hiroshima Peace Park, the memorial dedicated to the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Hayes said she was nervous about being an American coming to visit the site of such a horror, which was perpetuated by her country. She said that everyone was very respectful, and, "It was very sad, but interesting."

During the dinner at Cryan's, Rotary members asked Hayes many questions about her time in Japan: what her favorite meal was, and if she wore a kimono. 

While in Japan, Hayes said she watched a great deal of FIFA World Cup soccer and ate a lot of shabu-shabu, a dish where thinly sliced meats and vegetables are dipped into sauces tableside. 

About that kimono? Hayes explained that she tried on a ukata, the summer version of a kimono. The proud Rotarian also said that the meetings in Japan were huge, a comment to which Rotary member Rick Rafferty jokingly asked, "Were the meetings real formal like ours are?"

Hayes said that she was nervous about the fact that she doesn't eat seafood.  Seafood is a staple in the Japanese diet, and Hayes was afraid she would insult her host parents. All went very well though, and she said that when her host family found out that she worked at a Mexican restaurant in the states, they took her to a taco truck that came to town once a week. She said, "it was interesting though, because instead of salsa, it was spaghetti sauce." Nevertheless, the tacos were tasty, and the sentiment from her host family, very sweet.

*Please enjoy photos from the Rotary dinner, as well as photos from Allison Hayes' trip.