PORT ANGELES – The 18-member Junior Ambassador Program delegation from Port Angeles’ sister city of Mutsu City, Japan, will arrive next month for four days of sightseeing, culture fairs and visiting with their host families.
The 13 students, ranging in age from 13 years to 15 years, have studied at least four years of English and were chosen by the Mutsu City Board of Education.
The five adults accompanying them will speak both English and Japanese.
The delegation is scheduled to arrive at Stevens Middle School about 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 5, to meet their Port Angeles host families at a welcoming ceremony,
On Jan. 6, the delegation will spend the day with their host families.
A dinner for the adults is planned at Bella Italia Restaurant in Port Angeles.
Invited to the dinner will be members of the Port Angeles City Council, Port Angeles city staff, Port Angeles School Board and Port Angeles School District staff.
On Jan. 7, the delegation will attend a culture fair at Stevens Middle School from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
On Jan. 8, the delegation will go to a culture fair from 8:45 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Dry Creek Elementary, followed by a tour of the Clallam County Historical Society’s Museum at the Carnegie in Port Angeles.
After another culture fair at Roosevelt Elementary School at 12:15 p.m., the group will take a trip to the Olympic Game Farm in Sequim.
They will return to Stevens Middle School at 3:45 p.m., then attend a farewell dinner at the North Olympic Peninsula Skills Center.
The delegation is scheduled to depart at 6 a.m. on Jan. 9.
Mutsu City, which is on the northern part of Honshu Island, is sister city to both the city of Port Angeles and the Port Angeles School District, said Stacey Sanders, a Roosevelt Middle School teacher who helps organize the visit.
The Mutsu City delegation’s annual January visits started about 13 years ago.
Port Angeles students used to visit Japan every other year.
Beginning this year, they plant to visit annually.
