Sebastopol World Friends

Sebastopol World Friends is looking for a chaperone for our upcoming students’ trip to our sister city, Takeo, Japan in March 2012. This is the 28th year of our exciting student exchange program.

Those who have experience in working with groups of middle school and high school youth are encouraged to apply. Join in the amazing community of citizens and students of Sebastopol and Takeo, who are dedicated to contributing to “World Peace, One Friend at a Time”, and help our student ambassadors succeed in this powerful learning experience!

August, 2011

Sebastopol World Friends has been selected to receive funding from the “Leading Asia: Renewing U.S. and Japan Sister City Networks.” This award is a tribute to the work and dedication of SWF volunteers and our community for efforts in fostering and strengthening cooperation and understanding between our city and Japanese Sister City – Yamauchi, and now Takeo City. With this funding, SWF will send a delegation to Takeo City, Japan, in November of this year with the goal of sharing best practices in Sustainable Development. Other goals are to establish ongoing communication about sustainability between the two cities, and brainstorm sustainability programs that can involve youth.

We were at an orphanage for five days. Th children were so loving, and
they appreciated our company so much. They couldn't stop hugging us,
and they wanted to play with us for as long as they possibly could. I
can definetly say that being at the orphanage was quite an experience.
Some down sides to the orphanage experience were that we weren't
prepared for what we were walking into. Almost all of the children
have special needs, which made it difficult, and they were very
clingy. I mean it's great that they had so much love to share, but the
dirty conditions they lived in made it difficult for some of us to
enjoy them hanging on us. I know we did a great thing by playing with
and helping these children, but better preparation would have helped
us a lot more with this experience.

The American Student Ambassadors haven't had time to get a blog entry posted recently, but I at least wanted to get a few pictures up. It's hot, humid, and we're all exhausted, but I think everyone is happy and glad to be here. They're keeping us so busy, it's tough to keep up!

Anyway, please see the attached photos. We got a great group photo at the top of Boghdan Hill, you'll see a small bit of Chyhyryn behind us. One neat photo was a shot of a lunar eclipse. We have lots of welcome party photos that were shot by a professional photographer, but I forgot to grab the disc when I was over at his house earlier. I'll get some of those up later on. I also figured I'd post a couple photos of some of the wonderful kids we've been working with at the orphanage.

- Chris

Hey friends and family. We are having a really great time so far. Today we took a tour and saw the presidents office, a cool statue of a whole bunch of people. IT WAS HUGE. Next we saw the national soccer cup stadium that is still being built. Then we ate fast food and we had to order and all the workers spoke Ukrainian. Thank God for Natasha and her translating abilties!!!!! Then we went to a famine Museum and lit candles to remember the people who died from famine. After that we went to a Cathedral and went under ground into a catacombs and saw some pretty cool dead Saints. By that point we were all very exhausted and we needed to stop for ice cream. Then we went shopping in this cool place that was under the street because its much easier to cross under the street.

We've arrived safely at our hostel in Kyiv, after a long and exhausting day of air travel. Everyone, especially the students, are really excited to be here, and are enjoying all the new things. More later! For now, attached is a photo of us at the Munich airport.

Hello everyone, we're pleased to bring you our 2nd Newsletter (attached) for this year. Lots of exciting events coming up!

A couple of key things to note in our newsletter:
- April 16th, Join us in the parade! We're starting on High School Rd.
- April 16th, Sister City Charter Signing with Takeo, Japan
- A recap of the hosting, and information about travel this June, for our Chyhyryn Sister City students
- A recap of the hosting of our Yamauchi-Takeo Sister City students

Thank you everyone for your support of our program, we look forward to seeing you at the Apple Blossom Parade!

- Sebastopol World Friends

Travel is always a wearisome experience, but our student ambassadors, and their chaperone, Lyudmila Birko, were in high spirits and energetic as they emerged from customs at SFO. On the way back to Sebastopol, we stopped at the Golden Gate Bridge to give them an opportunity to stretch their legs, walk the bridge, and to see the beautiful cityscape of San Francisco and it's bay.

Upon arrival in Sebastopol, our guests were cheerfully greeted by their eager hosts. Smiles and laughter were plentiful. The attached pictures say it all.

Sebastopol World Friends invites 7th and 8th grade students and their parents to an informational meeting on the hosting and travel program with pur sister city Yamauchi-Takeo, Japan. Students who attend a middle school in Sebastopol or live in Sebastopol are invited to one of the following informational meetings, where the application process and a hosting and travel outline will be presented.

Friday, September 24, 7:00 pm
Brookhaven Middle School Library
7905 Valentine Avenue, Sebastopol

Thursday, September 30, 7:00 pm
Twin Hills Middle School, Room 12
1685 Watertrough Road, Sebastopol

For more information, contact:
Meg Mizutani 707.484.0245 mizutani@pacbell.net
Cynthia Albers 707.824.8986 musenet@earthlink.net