By Mark Oliva
Okinawa bureau

OKINAWA CITY — Kazuki Ueichi's new pen pal lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Ueichi, a Kyuyo Senior High School student in Okinawa, received a letter from President George W. Bush this month. It was dated Dec. 20th — days after Bush swapped his Republican candidate title for President-elect.

"I did not expect he would even take time to read my letter," Ueichi said.

Her letter to Bush was an assignment from her English teacher, Jerry F. Burks.

Burks' students sent more than 324 letters to American politicians, including the new president's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and senators such as Sen. Tom Daschle, Minority Leader from North Dakota, and to the mayors of New York City and Los Angeles, Rudolph Giuliani and Richard J. Riordan. So far, 210 politicians have responded and letters are still trickling in.

"I use the exercise to take away some of the fear of using the written English language," Burks said. "It's hard (in Japanese culture) for them to be allowed to make mistakes." The politicians complimented many of them on their English writing abilities, Burks said.

The Japanese students practice written English in journals, but this was their first time they were forced to correspond in a foreign language. Students took two days to complete the letters using sample questions Burks provided.

"I required them to ask questions," Burks said. "Some asked about the (U.S. military) bases and the (Group of Eight) summit. Most asked personal questions about kids and pets."

Writing the letters was a hurdle for the students, but as the letters came back, excitement mounted, Burks said.

President Bush's response to Ueichi included advice similar to his education plans for the United States.

"I encourage you also to read as many books as you can," wrote then-Texas Gov. Bush. "I'm challenging students to spend at least as much time reading as they do watching TV. Reading is the key to opportunity."

"Now I am beginning to realize how special the letter I received is," Ueichi said. "I will certainly treasure this. I am going to follow his advice."

Toshimitsu Iesaka learned through his correspondence of Giuliani's battle with prostate cancer.

"Before I wrote a letter to Mayor Giuliani, I did not know anything about him," said Iesaka. "I never thought he would answer to my letter. So when I received a letter from him, I was so impressed. His letter made me want to visit New York some day."

Burks said one senator "appeared to use an old hunt-and-peck typewriter because you could see the holes in the paper" from the keys striking the page.

"I was very impressed with that," he said.

"It shows people in the world are genuinely interested in their education. It doesn't matter what country they come from."

Chiyomi Sumida contributed to this report.