When Bolles goes on break during the holidays, most of the 78 boarding students travel back home. That was not the case this year for border Yusuke Natakani ‘27. 

This year, instead of going back home to Japan, Nakatani’s classmate and baseball teammate Wyatt Wise ‘27 invited Yusuke over to his house for the break to give him the good ol’ American Thanksgiving experience.

Nakatani and Wise’s friendship kicked off when Nakatani began boarding at Bolles his freshmen year. Almost every day, you can find the two friends out on the baseball fields practicing together. 

Nakatani stayed with Wise from Wednesday through Sunday. Besides Thanksgiving dinner, the two baked festive cookies, decorated for Christmas, went fishing, played airsoft, football, and pickleball.

Wise said his favorite activity was fishing. “I loved going fishing. Thankfully, it wasn’t really cold out that day. Even though I didn’t catch a fish, just being out there on the water was a really fun time.”

Nakatani said the plan fell into place the week before Thanksgiving break. “Honestly, I was going to stay here alone. I wouldn’t be here with my parents. I had to stay in the US. Wyatt’s family took me in. We had such a great time.”

Nakatani said that this Thanksgiving met the expectations he had. “In Japan, there is no Thanksgiving,” he said. “This was my first time ever having

Thanksgiving dinner. It was a very great experience.” The food he enjoyed the most was Grandma Wise’s famous Mac and Cheese.