FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Ruth Ruiz, (714) 765-5060 office, (714) 420-7797 cell
HOST FAMILY APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR ANAHEIM SISTER CITY STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM
ANAHEIM, Calif. (June 21, 2013) The Anaheim Sister City Commission has extended its deadline to June 30 for Anaheim residents to apply to be host families for its 2013 Mito, Japan student exchange program. For many of the students, this is their first visit to the United States.
The students will be in Anaheim for one week between July 26 and August 10, and will rely on host families to house them during their stay. Becoming a host family offers a new and exciting opportunity for families to learn about Japanese culture and customs in a nontraditional way.
The Anaheim Sister City Commission offers a great opportunity for the Mito students as well as the local families. The growth opportunities for host families are endless, and many use this experience to explore their own family’s American values while teaching eager Mito students about their family history and American culture.
Qualifications for a host family include providing a private and comforting environment for the visiting student, having a safe household equipped with up-to-date fire alarms or smoke detectors, having all members of the household 18-or-older fingerprinted by the Anaheim Police Department, and assuming responsibility for some costs associated with the student’s visit.
After submitting an application, host candidates will complete an in-person interview. Chosen hosts will attend an orientation meeting where they will learn about Japanese culture before the student arrives.
To apply for the program, and for more information about the Sister City Commission, please click here.
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ABOUT ANAHEIM –The City of Anaheim, founded in 1857, is one of the nation’s premier municipalities and is one of California’s most populous cities. Anaheim covers 50 square miles with more than 343,000 residents and more than 2,950 City employees. The municipal corporation’s annual budget is $1.5 billion. Anaheim supports a thriving business community with companies such as Carl Karcher Enterprises, Inc., L-3 Communications, Pacific Sunwear, and Disneyland Resort. Successful sports franchises call Anaheim home, including Angels Baseball, Anaheim Ducks, the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team, the 2012 Olympic Games Silver Medal winning U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, and the Professional Arena Soccer League Anaheim Bolts. Anaheim also boasts world-class meeting and entertainment venues with the Anaheim Convention Center, LEED-certified and the largest on the west coast, Honda Center, City National Grove of Anaheim, Anaheim GardenWalk, and Angel Stadium of Anaheim. In addition, Anaheim embraces its vibrant cultural arts community, including the world-renowned Anaheim Ballet. Annually, Anaheim welcomes millions of visitors to the city, truly making it where the world comes to live, work and play. For more information, please visit www.anaheim.net.