Bloomington Normal Sister Cities

Senior High School Exchange Program to Asahikawa, Japan

Program Eligibility

This program is funded by the City of Bloomington and the Town of Normal. To be eligible for this program you must:

• Currently be a High School freshman, sophomore, or junior
• Live in School District 87 or Unit 5.

Informational Meeting

• Sunday, February 19, 2:00 to 3:30 pm
• Normal Public Library, Lower Level Community Room.
• Please park in the College Avenue Parking Deck. Parking in the deck is free to library users.

Application Deadline

Monday, March 12, 5:00 pm

Mail application to:

• Akiko Wilson
• 20 Linda Lane
• Normal, IL 61761

The student applicant will supply:

• An essay describing themselves
• An essay describing their view of the program
• The complete application
• 2 Sealed letters of recommendation
• 1 Official sealed High School transcript

See the application for complete details.

Application

Questions? Contact Akiko Wilson, Co-Chair, BN Sister Cities Senior High School to Asahikawa Program

Interviews with applicants and their parents:

• Monday, March 19, 5:00-8:45 pm
• Normal Public Library, Lower Level Community Room.
• Based upon written applications, selected students and their parents will be interviewed for 30-45 minutes.

About the program

Since 1962, Asahikawa, Japan and Bloomington/Normal have had a Sister Cities relationship. In 2012 we will celebrate the 50th Anniversary. Our sister city relationship is the second longest in the US.

Senior High School Exchange Programs are among the premier programs sponsored by the Bloomington/Normal Sister Cities Committee. Since 1968 sixty-two Bloomington/Normal high school students have studied for about one year in Asahikawa as goodwill ambassadors, living with host families and attending school. This scholarship award includes transportation to and from Japan, living costs, high school tuition and fees, and a monthly stipend.

We seek two senior high students who:

• Are eager to make friends in Asahikawa and work as goodwill ambassadors from Bloomington and Normal.
• Are eager to learn, taking advantage of this unique opportunity.
• Can adapt themselves to the quite different Japanese life and customs.
• Will respect and appreciate Japanese culture, customs, and rules.
• Will be good representatives of Bloomington/Normal community and the United States.
• Can motivate themselves throughout the year to keep studying Japanese language on their own with the help of a teacher. Language acquisition is the key to a successful stay in Japan.

The two selected students are required to attend a series of lessons in Japanese language and culture from the time of selection until departure to Japan. The committee will also work with them to complete and to acquire the needed travel documents.

Students typically leave for Asahikawa in late July or early August and return to Bloomington/Normal in June the following year. While in Asahikawa students will attend high school, live with host families, and attend Asahikawa Sister Cities Committee events. They attend high schools from which our Japanese exchange students come. Students will have regular contact with officials in the International Affairs Office at Asahikawa's City Hall and with the Sister Cities Committee there.

Students are required to send a report every other month back to Bloomington/Normal Sister Cities.

After their return, exchange students are often called upon to accompany the Sister Cities Committee members at speaking engagements in Bloomington and Normal and to serve as "goodwill ambassadors" for the Sister Cities program.