Japanese Sister CityEXCHANGES

July/August 2010
Newsletter

Independence Is Happy to Host Japanese Students

Inside this issue:
The American Style

2

The American Way to
Cool Off on a Summer

3Home Stay Difference

4For people who love toshare their lives withothers!
Below: Kimiko
Sato with Mr. Ohno

Above Left to Right: Holding special cake made by American Rosie Smith isEscort Hiromi Taniguchi, Ayumi Kubota, Ririko Umehara, Masami
Takahashi, Ouka Yamaguchi, Ayaka Kamagata, Hayato Kaneko, RirikoUmehara, Shimpei Moriyama, Mina Sakai and Rosie Smith.
Right: The groupwent to Leavenworth, KS with Ken
Mulliken for a tourof the Sisters ofCharityand St.
Mary University.
They are sitting bya statue of thefounding MotherRoss, who wasknown for her
great generosity.

Special Person Space
Kimiko Sato, Vice President of HIFA lives in ourSister City and not only
works with the committees to plan, put on andhost our students while
in Japan, she also plays amajor part in the Exchange Students thatcome to America andEscort . Kimiko’s duties
do not change from year
to year, since the HIFA
positions do not change.

July/August 2010

Page 2Hot DogCook-Out&Campfirets &SportingtaChSongs

Skits

Meet, Greet& EatgMakins
Friend&July/August 2010

Page 3

Pontoon Boat, Motor Boat,Tubes, Noodles & Swimming

Students join friends in a
loved American activity ofwater fun on Blue Springs
Lake, learning the ropes
from the Moxley family.

The three oldest of the four Moxley
daughters have gone to Japan as Exchange Students. Also the family has
hosted each year. Below they are with Ririko their new daughter in2010 trip at the Farewell Luau Party. Kathy and Gary are at each endwith Ririko next to Kathy.

Japanese Sister City
www.ci.independence.mo.us/sistercity
in care of : Independence City Hall
Chairman: Jeannae Segura-Brown 816-833-3109
All contact information & applications are on theWEB SITE. Taking applications for the 2011 trip.
October Garden Clean Up Day for all interested
and Glendale Performance at Japan Festival!

What makes this Sister City Exchange so special?
It is the home stay.

Above: The Snethen Family & Mina.
Below: Big Bugs at Powell. Gardens

Families find out what makes the student special, such as a talent ordesire that they have. In two weeks of eating together, sharing time
and talking they really feel a part of an American family. Even thesmallest child says that they don’t want their brother or sister fromJapan to go home. For the Americans, seeing your every day life,
your home town and your family through the eyes of the student is
an experience all in itself. It is much different to stay in a home thanto stay in a hotel while touring the local sites. There is a connection that tourist just don’t get. So think about hosting next year. It
just might be the best time you ever spent in your own town.
Above two host families got together for a music session & cookout. There are a few family nights and weekends left open without
any planned activities. You can decide what your students needs.

Up Coming JSCC Events:
Santa-Cali-Gon Parking
Spend time with your Sister City friends helping park cars. Moneyraised will help support the 2011 Student Exchange Program. You,
your family and friends are invited to participate Sept. 3rd-6th. The
Committee only gets to work this lot every 7 years. So please consider helping out. Call Jeannae Segura-Brown for more information.
The Japan Festival
The annual Greater Kansas City Japan Festival sponsored by several
area organizations will be held Saturday, October 2nd at Johnson
County Community College. The event will feature a performanceby the Glendale Japan Club. Other events include art, presentations,performances, lectures and sales booths.
Motaku Convention
Look for information on the ukpcoming Motaku Convention to beheld in October.

Just being American teenagers.