EXCHANGESJapanese Sister
CityJune/July 2010
Newsletter

GIRLS HAD FUN IN JAPANBeautiful Higashimurayama,
known for Lake Tama, gave thenine exchange students and escorta fast paced, fun-filled and lovingtime. To the right we have agroup photo of (back row) Elizabeth Polina, Austin Snethen, Emily
Collins, Miriam Vnaoni, Emily
Tanner, Marie Mader, (front row)
Shayla Jarman, Dana Masters,
Anna Price and Alyssa Wilt.
Two weeks flew by as they got toknow their host families, tried thecultural foods, visited city locations, interacted with school children and toured historic sites.
This was not all that was on theiragendas because they absorbed
modern Japan while learning traditional customs.
It was very hot for the girls but
they never let the temperature
get them down. They were always
ready to try something new andhad smiles on their faces while
experiencing a rare chance atbeing in our Sister City.
Citizens of Higashimurayama
were very helpful, thoughtful, andgenerous with the American Exchange. So many thanks go out tothe committees, host families andleadership that made this a mostsuccessful exchange.
Above, Emily Collins and dear
Having missed the one in 2009, friend, Kazue Miyazawa, attend thethis was a much needed exchange Mayor’s Luncheon with 9 exchange
students. Some of the thoughts
for the Sister City program.
they expressed there were how

Also the HIFA group pictured to the right met to discuss the prior year and the future exchange with adultrepresentatives from the trip.
Chairman, Jeannae Segura-Brown said the trip renewed
her strength for the JSCC/HIFA program.

Dressing Our Best:
Learning about Kimono

2

Gang is All Here: Japan& America Tour Niko3

Higashimurayama: Entertaining City3

Ikebana Teachers &Mayor at his desk3

Taking Applications Now 3
for 2011 Tripthey enjoyed Tokyo Disney,
being with the teens thatwould be coming to America
and how wonderful the Japanese adults were to them.
HIFA gave choices on craft
activities to learn from theJapanese heritage as well as
doing some physical activities
like archery. There were also
festival atmosphere on BBQ
day where they busted open
watermelons with sticks while
being blind-folded. Elementary children
treated the girls like rock stars and students stopped the girls on the street,
while shopping, to practice English.

JSCC Sister School Visitors
We appreciate the kindness extended to our teachers,
Jeannae Segura-Brown and Alreda Adams for offering
an additional Sister School visit at the same time as theStudent Exchange took place. Having a home-stay experience Jeannae and Alreda visited the in-session classes
at our Sister Schools.

Inside this issue:

Happening Events &Coming Soon Events

4

Special Person Space:
Mr. Ohno

1

Pictured above with Lana
White is Mr. & Mrs. Ohno.
Mr. Ohno has been president of the Higashimurayama International Friendship Association over theyears that the JSCC has
existed. He has been astrong factor in both thestudent and adult trips.
His American home-stays
have been primarily withBill and Joanne Shaw,
whom he has hosted aswell. Mr. Ohno’s wisdom isvery appreciated after 32
years of changing commission members, hundreds ofstudents and large adulttrips to the United States.
We appreciate all his work
and JSCC advice he has.

THE EXCHANGES

Page 2

Dressing Our Best: Discovering the Kimono

2010 Alumni

Hair done up,
kimono and fan inhand, poised in
front of a lovely
screen and eachgirl feels special!

June/July 2010

Page 3Gangs All Here: Japanese and Americans Are Touring Nikko & Surrounding Area

Students Hang Out
Together
Exploring & Visiting

HIFA Members, Teachers, & Both Sets of 2010 Exchange Students
Left: Girls at
Mayor’s
Lunch, Right:
Visiting theSchools.

Left: Thanks to the
Ikebana Teachers!
Right: City FireFighting Experience,
and Visit to the Police
Station Below: Visiting
the Mayor!
Mayor Watanabe
displays a mouse
pad from the City of
Independence. He
has not been able tovisit yet but hopes
to do so in the nearfuture. Each girl got
to experience sittingin his chair.

A City Full ofEntertainment &ExperienceJapanese Sister City

Contact us via the City Hall of Independence MO
Jeannae Segura-Brown, Chairman
John Seeley, Vice President
Joe Gall, Treasurer
Debbie Lovewell, Secretary
Friends of the JSCC Chair: Major Hammett
Communications Committee Gerald Hancock &Sandy Peoples
Contact us via Facebook at jsccfriends@yahoo.com
Alumni at jsccindependence@gmail.com
Web site: www.ci.independence.mo.us.sistercity
All Commission members names and contact
information is on the web site.
Check out the new http://H-IFA.com web site.

For people who love to share their lives withothers.
Welcome newcommission member
Patti Schumacher &returning member,Sharon Wilson

If you would like to participate in the 2011 Exchange or know someone
who would, applications are on the web site on the Exchange Tab at:www.ci.independence.mo.us/sistercity. Just because it was an all-girl trip in2010 doesn’t mean boys aren’t accepted. It made it nice for the girls to dosome feminine things but as pictured above they also experienced a large
variety of activities such as the one pictured above.

Teacher, Alreda Adams amongst children, finds out what makes Japan sucha special country so that she can share
1st hand knowledge in USA Schools.

Happening Now and Up-Coming Events
Welcoming Camp Fire
Independence Today
Historical Independence
American School Visit
Family Day Weekends
St. Mary University
Kansas City Zoo
Worlds of Fun
Horseback Riding
Powell Gardens Lunch
Boating, Swimming &Teen Party & Luau
Mayors Dinner are just a
few of the things that theJapanese Exchange Students did in our city.
All JSCC Friends arewelcome on many
events.
~~Student Interviews
for the 2011 trip andour 33rd Anniversary
party will take place inthe winter of 2011.
~Santi-Cali-Gon Fund
Raiser: Join us for a“Parking” Event to raisemoney for Student Programs. All candidates
may participate.

In the Autumn: Japan Festival & Motaku Convention~Calling all Alumni toget involved and planfor the 35th Anniversary Adult
Trip.
Right: BBQ
Day looks
like fun for
Jeannae andWatanabe.

All 2010 Exchange Students, HIFA members andIndependence Teachersvisiting temple in Nikko& having a ’friendshipmaking’ kind of day.