Information and Instructions - OKAZAKI
To: 8th Grade Students at Corona del Mar Middle School and Ensign Intermediate School
What are the selection criteria?
The selected students are ambassadors representing not only the school, but Newport Beach, the State of California, the U.S.A., and above all, their families and themselves. We see the selected students to have the following qualifications. You should:
· Demonstrate proper manners, so that, as a guest in Japan, the Japanese can gain an understanding and appreciation of an American student's life style.
· Be able to make good decisions and be self-directed so that your actions always represent the highest quality of integrity, diplomacy, and judgment.
· Demonstrate high performance in academic areas.
· Be able to articulate thoughts and ideas easily.
· Exemplify the qualities of leadership.
· Be able to accept and follow directions, friendliness with others.
· Have some knowledge of Japan and its geography
· Demonstrate an awareness and respect for the cultural difference between Japan and the United States.
Lastly, you must serve as host for your Japanese “buddy” in October, shadowing your Japanese buddy. You also must participate in events that are scheduled for the exchange students (American and Japanese). In case these events fall on regular school hours, you must participate in the scheduled events. There will be no exception.
As stated above we see the selected student as an ambassador. We expect that you
· Have a desire to learn about the culture of Japan.
· Have specific understanding of the cultural etiquette of Japan.
· Will represent the City of Newport Beach, the School District, your school, the NBSCA, and the Rotary Club in an exemplary manner.
· Increase your Japanese buddy’s understanding of the American students' way of life here in Newport Beach.
You will have an opportunity to present your qualifications in Part B – Student Application Form as well as during an interview.
Your Point of Contact (POC)
Please turn to your Point of Contact (POC) for any assistance. Your designated Point of Contact (POC) is
Kent Moore, Vice President
Okazaki Committee
Newport Beach Sister City Association
Post Office Box 3134
Newport Beach, CA 92659
Where and how do I sign up?
Newport Beach Sister City Association in connection with The Rotary Club of Newport accepts applications for the Wendell Fish Okazaki 8th Grade Student Exchange. The selected ambassadors will go to Japan during the month of July. They will host their newly-made Japanese buddies in the Newport Area during the month of October. To receive the
Application Package, please send an e-mail stating your name and telephone number to kentmoore@roadrunner.com.
Deadline for Submittal:
What happens once I have submitted my application?
You are required to submit your Student Application Form, the Parent Application Form and Statement of Intent/Release to your POC by no later than (obtain packet at school office). Within approximately two (2) weeks from your submittal of the paperwork, you will be asked to participate in an interview with the Selection Committee. The committee will select six (6) exchange students (although the number may vary year to year). You will be informed by the chairperson of the NBSCA Okazaki Committee if you are among the students selected for the program.
Provided you are selected, you, together with the other selected exchange students and two chaperones will meet with members of the NBSCA and Newport Balboa Rotary Club on several occasions to prepare you for your trip to Japan and discuss travel arrangements. You may be required to participate in a meeting at the Newport Beach City Council as well as a short Japanese language program.
In July, the selected exchange students and your chaperone will travel from Newport Beach to Japan. During the 10 days in Japan, you will be staying with a Japanese family and go to school with your newly found Japanese buddy. While in Okazaki, you will be requested to officially represent Newport Beach and the Newport Mesa Unified School District at various formal meetings with Japanese officials and Rotarians. The last three days of your visit to Japan, you will travel with your fellow students and chaperones from Okazaki to Kyoto, the former capital. You will visit there for two days. Then you all will leave from Osaka airport to fly back to the U.S.
In October, you will be required to reciprocate and host your Japanese buddy during these days at your home. The program will require you to shadow your Japanese buddy during the school days and participate in formal events either organized by the school or the NBSCA. You will be required to accompany your Japanese buddy to all these events; it might mean that you have to be absent from school. As a result you might be required to make up for lost classes.
If you or your parents have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your POC:
Kent Moore, kentmoore@roadrunner.com
Thank you and good luck!
WENDELL FISH STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM
NEWPORT BEACH, U.S.A. – OKAZAKI, JAPAN