Not just Japan!

Australia:  This was June 15 through July 14, 2011, for ages 16-19.  Participants chose a homestay in either a suburban/rural or farm/ranch setting. For more information, contact Jill Hlomgren at 907-455-6987 or japanalaska@gmail.com.

"We didn't speak the same language, but we could still communicate. We had things in common even though we were from different cultures. Ryo taught us Japanese card games and we taught him how to fish. He showed us pictures of his home, family and his soccer team. It wasn't that different from our life in Alaska. We never knew we would have so much fun with someone we didn't know. We spent a lot of time with him and became lifelong friends. We still keep in touch through e-mails, packages and letters. We miss him very much and hope we see him again one day. We will never forget him and will always remember the memories."                               –Jack, inbound program, 2010

• "Our delegate truly became a family member."
• "Don't be afraid to host a delegate. It was much easier than I thought it was going to be and much more rewarding than I ever imagined."
• "I would highly recommend the experience."
• "I enjoyed getting to know our delegate's mother through e-mail. To see that she had the same hopes, dreams and worries for her child as I do for mine. It made me feel more connected to the world and other cultures."
• "The positive experiences were meeting a new friend and learning about the Japanese culture. It was fun to see Alaska and the U.S. through someone else's eyes. The berst part was watching my children and seeing them be gracious and kind to someone different from them."