Exchange Program

Every year a select group of Independence students get to travel to Higashimurayama for two weeks and Higashimurayama students travel to Independence for the following two weeks. This allows for approximately four weeks of cultural exchange. The first two weeks Americans will be in Japan. The eleven Americans will fly back with the ten Japanese exchange students and their escort. Then the Americans will spend the next two weeks with the Japanese students here in Independence.

American Ambassadors

Announcing the 2009 American Ambassadors

You Are Invited to learn more about Sister City cultural exchange activities. Meet interesting people and enjoy being part of a world-wide association promoting peace and understanding among all nations.

Independence Students

Candidates must be good students, uphold high personal standards of conduct and earn the recommendation of school officials. Applications for the 2010 delegation will be accepted beginning in January 2009. Interviews are held in the spring and ten students are chosen in the summer of 2009 to represent America in our Sister City, Higashimurayama, in July 2010!

Japanese culture classes are held to learn about Japanese society and language. Meetings are held monthly with the Escort to prepare the group for the two week trip. Guest speakers will assist in preparing the group for the trip.

When in Japan the group will meet with the Mayor of Higashimurayama and other city officials, the fire department, the police station, and historical temples. The delegation will tour past and present tourist events, and have hands-on activities from the Japanese culture. Each student will live with a host family and experience real Japanese life. During this time the students will visit the Elementary Sister City School and a Junior High School, as well as meet with the Japanese delegation.

By the end of the experience American students will have not only been able to visit Japan, but they will have a Japanese family. They will also have friends who they get to share Japan and America with. Likewise, Japanese students will have an American Family and American friends.

This is a very unique Sister City opportunity offered in Independence and Higashimurayama. Students must be of High School or College age, no older than twenty-two. They must live in or go to school in the Independence area. Students are not required to host a Japanese Ambassador but it is available.

Download a 2010 Application for Student Ambassadors

American Host Families

Be a Host Family, Host a Sister City Student from Higashimurayama

Families, preferably with teenagers at home, can host one of the Higashimurayama Students for their stay in Independence. Families will not only give them a place to sleep and live while they are here but also share their daily lives with them. Families are given time over a weekend to take their student to special events the family enjoys as well as attend the provided pot lucks, pool parties and events for the whole group that are hosting Higashimurayama students.

A full schedule is provided for the Higashimurayama during the day and the student only needs to be dropped off and picked up at specific locations, which often is the Sermon Center. Visiting Students tour Independence historic sites, Fire and Police Stations, schools and The Sunshine Center as well as other planned events such as a trip to the Plaza or a tour of the Harley Davidson factory. Worlds of Fun, Baseball, water parks and boating are also planned into their days and Sister City Commission takes care of these activities for the host families.

Higashimurayama Student Host Families

Host families can share home life, holidays, favorite sites in the Kansas City area that are not covered by the Sister City Commission and make sure the student gets to see things that are in their particular interest. It is a very rewarding time and learning experience and a wonderful time your family will never forget. Many families stay in contact with their host students for years to come.

Download a 2009 & 2010 Application to host a Japanese Student
Download an Exchange Survey
Download a 30th Anniversary Host Family Information Form

Escorts

Download a 2009 Application to be an Escort

Previous Escorts for American Groups