“I just thought “no, I don’t want to eat that. Let’s not open up that issue”.”

The Smiths Lake 19-year-old is back home hosting Japanese student Yukako Nishimoto for three weeks, and the topic hasn’t really come up. Other taste differences have.

“We eat so much more bread than the Japanese, and a lot less rice. I think she’s getting used to it, but it’s a pretty big food adjustment,” Sarah said.

“When I was there last year I was eating this thing and they told me it was jellyfish.

“I stopped eating because it was really rubbery and, well, a jellyfish.”

Yukako, 18, lives in Osaka, in the Kansai region.

She won a trip to the Great Lakes through a student English-speaking competition, but admits the language is “very hard to learn”. Partly through Sarah, she explained the differences between Osaka, commercial gateway to an 18 million-strong metropolis, and Smiths Lake, erm, it has a jetty.

“At home everyone is always busy. No-one really drives because there are so many people on the roads,” Yukako said.

This point was underlined as she nearly got run over at Little St.

“A lot of people my age get on the train every morning for university, and when they get home they take part in organised activities like karate.”

The exchange program is run by Forster-Tuncurry and Osaka Lions Clubs.

During her stay at Wakayama City, also in Kansai, Sarah dabbled in karate.

“I did some karate at the university, and everyone was pretty passionate about what they did,” she said.

“If kids out here get left on their own, they end up doing nothing.”

Aided by a sound grasp of each other’s language, Yukako and Sarah have struck up a friendship.

“Yeah, we get on well. We learn a lot from each other, and she seems like she’s really enjoyed being here,” Sarah said.

“Although maybe she just says that because I’m around.”

Yukako insisted she wasn’t just being polite.

“I’ve enjoyed seeing the beaches and the animals, like kangaroos. And kookaburras,” she added, as raucous laughter rang out from nearby trees.

“I am surprised how [Sarah] says hello to everyone. She knows everyone.”

All up, Sarah’s glad she joined the exchange program.

“I loved going over and seeing how differently people live, with their culture and family life,” she said.

“It’s also pretty great for Yukako to come here and see beautiful beaches and whales for the first time.”

Well. Maybe not for the first time.