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:

·         Demonstrate proper manners, so that, as a guest in Japan, the Japanese can gain an understanding and appreciation of an American student's lifestyle.

·         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.

·         Demonstrate an awareness and respect for the cultural difference between Japan and the United States.

As stated above we see the selected student as an ambassador in the following manner:   

·         Serve as host for the Japanese “buddy” when they visit you and your family in October.

·         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 the Japanese’s understanding of the American students' way of life in the United States.

You will have an opportunity to present your qualifications during the application process, which includes an interview.

A group of six (6) eighth grade boys and girls will be selected by the Newport Balboa Rotary Club to visit Okazaki, Japan in July 2008.  These students will be accompanied by two adult chaperones.  We are looking for applicants who are willing to chaperone our students for 10 days in Japan.

The trip involves the usual duties of chaperoning students away from their home school sites.  As the representative of the USA and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, you should be prepared to present a mature example of Newport Beach, the American educational system, and the United States.  You will be called upon to introduce your students and to make a short speech at six or seven various educational, business, civic, and social environmental settings.  Your personal expression of dress should also demonstrate respect for their culture. 

The students live with host families and your time spent at the home of your hosts, educators in the Japanese system, will be a delightful exchange of American and Japanese cultures that you will treasure forever.  You will have the opportunity to serve as a host for one of the two (2) adult chaperones visiting from Okazaki, Japan in October 2008.  Your airfare to and from Okazaki will be paid for by the Newport Beach Sister City Association.  If you choose to take a spouse along to Okazaki, your spouse can either apply for the chaperone slot (and have the expenses fully paid for) or can pay his/her own airfare (approximately $1,300.00) and all land costs (approx. $450.00), as well as incidental costs.

Members of the Newport Balboa Rotary and Sister City will conduct interviews.  Expenses and other details of the trip will be explained at this time.