Summerland's Sister City Committee is expecting 2012 to be a busy year as it builds an even stronger relationship between Summerland and its Sister City Toyokoro, Japan.
Next month the committee will begin advertising an adventure of a lifetime for a person who lives or has lived in Summerland.
The Board of Education in Toyokoro would like to hire an assistant English teacher to help teach English in their schools.
It will be a one-year contract beginning August 2013.
More information regarding this position can be seen on the municipal website at summerland.ca.
This August we will be hosting 10 students and two adult chaperones from Toyokoro.
They will be in Summerland Aug. 6 to 11. If you are interested in a cultural exchange for a few days and would like to host a student please e-mail darleneaforsdick@yahoo.com.
September 2013 will be the next time a Summerland delegation will visit Toyokoro.
Plans are still under development but at the moment it looks as if there will be time for a few days in each of Kyoto and Tenri City (both are located in Nara, south of Tokyo) before visiting Toyokoro on the north island of Hokkaido.
Kyoto is the country’s seventh largest city with a population of 1.4 million and is home to one quarter of Japan’s national treasures, countless shrines and temples and 17 sites recognized as World Heritage Sites.
Tenri is much smaller with a population of around 70,000.
Both Tenri and Kyoto are rich in culture and beauty and dedicated to preserving some of Japan’s oldest traditions.
Information on our Sister City, Toyokoro, can be seen on their website at toyokoro.jp or Summerland’s website.
Spaces are filling up quickly. If you are interested and would like more information, please contact Lorrie at lorrieforde@gmail.com or Darlene at darleneaforsdick@yahoo.com.