Former Peace Corps worker Linda Fujikawa, a Japanese-language professor, was recognized with a national award recently for starting a service club that brings together international, mainland and local students at Kapiolani Community College.

In 1998 she created the International Cafe to help local and international students on campus learn about other cultures and languages. Starting with 10 members, it has grown to 150, she said.

“;I noticed pockets of students (from various foreign countries) in the cafeteria and saw nowhere for people to mix. I wanted to create a safe space for people to get to know each other,”; said Fujikawa, a teacher at KCC for 20 years. But also, “;it's a haven for neighbor island kids and newcomers from the mainland,”; she added.

She went to Washington, D.C., in June to receive one of 11 biennial Franklin H. Williams Awards, which honor Peace Corps alumni of color who continue the program's mission at home through community service and promote a better understanding of other people around the world. She taught English in Korea from 1976 to 1978.

The students also earn credit for the service learning projects they perform, including helping homeless shelters, working with seniors at Leahi hospital and cleaning up beaches.

But students enjoy the International Cafe most for the camaraderie and friendships that develop.

Vinorajh Sriganthan, an information technology student from Sri Lanka, joined the club two years ago.

“;This is a very fun club. ... I always wanted to help people and the community. I wanted to make more friends and learn different languages and cultures from them. Before, I was lonely; I just used to go home (after classes) and study,”; he said.

He met another student from a non-Hindu religious faction of his country whom he normally would never befriend.

“;In our own country we are fighting for almost 20 years. Here we are friends,”; said Sriganthan.

Sunwook Kim, known as “;Dylan,”; of Korea said that “;for the Asian people, who stick together, it's hard to know others from different countries. The local people are different. They feel free to talk to others who are unfamiliar. When we gather to do service learning projects, we fill up the hour with talking to each other, which is most important.”;

Although there are language barriers, he said, “;We use survival English!”; Students from other countries around him laughed in agreement.

Makodo “;Maholo”; Kusunoki of Japan said longtime club member Jordan Wada tutors her and others with their English and also teaches them local slang and customs.

Wada, from Mililani, is studying to be a Japanese-language teacher and went to Japan on an exchange program a few years ago. The most valuable lesson he learned was tolerance.

For a year he lived with other international students who all learned “;how hard it was to learn (another) language”; and how it felt to be ignored or considered ignorant by native speakers who did not understand them, Wada said.

When he got home, his attitude toward some of his co-workers at Zippy's had changed.

“;(Before) I could never understand what they were saying. Now I don't get angry with them. I try to put myself in their place, and I understand them better, where they're coming from,”; he said.