Sister Cities program seeks host families for this summer

Have you ever wanted to experience the culture of another society through first-hand personal experience with someone who is actually part that culture? Ever wanted to share American culture with someone from another land? Are you the kind of person who likes to have company and make new friends?

If you are, the Sister Cities exchange program is currently accepting applications from local families to host members of a Japanese student delegation who will be visiting McMinnville this July.

This will be the 13th such exchange since the program was launched in 1992, under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce, to promote international relations and friendship, as well as the exchange of ideas, cultural heritage and traditions, between the communities of McMinnville-Warren County and Mikawa-muri and Mikawa-machi, Japan.

?Sister Cities is actually an international organization,? said local Sister City steering committee chairperson Beverly Crouch, a teacher at Centertown School. ?Besides being a student exchange program, it also has to do with business and industry here in McMinnville, kind of a dual purpose.?

The student exchange segment of the program alternates year by year.

?Last year our students went to Japan,? Crouch said. ?This year the Japanese students will be coming here.?

Crouch said there have also been exchanges of adult groups with the program.

?It?s a program we want to continue because it promotes a cultural exchange between our two countries,? Crouch said.

To host a Japanese student, a family must have a child currently enrolled in the seventh, eighth or ninth grades, as the Japanese students will be in the same age group. The goal of the program is for the host family to show the Japanese students how a typical American family conducts their day-to-day lives.

Host families are encouraged to include their guests in their regular daily activities, like grocery shopping, attending church, sporting events or going to movies with friends.

?They love going to Wal-Mart,? said Chamber president Lea Chrisawn. ?That?s a big hit with the Japanese students.?

Though the Japanese delegation will provide its own transportation to the states, host families will be expected to house and feed their Japanese students and transport them to local group events.

For those who may be worried about the language barrier, it should be noted that most Japanese children are taught English in school from an early age. Most will be able to communicate with their host families in rudimentary English at least, though organizers point out communication can still be somewhat of a challenge and may involve a lot of pointing and gesturing.

But for many that only adds to the fun, and the experience can end up creating life long friendships.

Since this may be a banner year for the program, with a possibility of as many as 20 Japanese students, Crouch says Sister Cities is actively seeking host families. Applications are available at local schools and at the Chamber. The applications must be filled out and turned in by April 7. For more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 473-6611.