[E-updates] Community invited to City of Hiratsuka student welcoming

[Lisa Patterson]

NEWS RELEASE	City of Lawrence, Kansas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 18, 2003

CONTACT:  Lisa Patterson, Communications Coordinator, (785) 832-3406

or

Linda Hyler, exchange sponsor, 842-8990

Community invited to City of Hiratsuka student welcoming

(LAWRENCE, KS) - The 2003 student delegation from Hiratsuka, Japan,
Lawrence's Sister City, will be welcomed with a reception on Tuesday, July
22 at 1 p.m. at the Watkins Museum, 1047 Massachusetts and the neighboring
Japanese Friendship Garden, 1045 Massachusetts Street.

Past exchange participants, host families and individuals who have visited
or lived in Japan and Hiratsuka as well as citizens interested in meeting
the students are invited to attend the welcoming reception.  Arriving
directly from the airport, the twenty students and their three chaperons
will have their first experience with the Lawrence community at the
reception.  

The welcome reception is the event where the delegation meets the community
and receives greeting from Lawrence citizens.  By encouraging a large group
to attend the welcoming reception, the delegation understands the support
and value of the Sister Cities relationship.  When Lawrence students visit
the City of Hiratsuka, they are welcomed at a reception filled with people,
warm wishes and conversation.  

The delegation of junior high and high school students will spend nine days
with host families in Lawrence.  The exchange is part of the on-going
relationship in the sister cities program and will provide the Japanese
students with a sampling of American life.  Students will visit landmarks,
shop and go to an amusement park as a group.  With host families, the
students will stay in groups of two and will participate in recreational
activities such as swimming, boating and visiting parks as well as
experiencing social events such as weddings and parties.

-END-


_____________________________
Lisa K. Patterson
Communications Coordinator
City of Lawrence
PO Box 708
Lawrence, KS 66044
(785) 832-3406
fax (785) 832-3405
lpatterson@ci.lawrence.ks.us
http://www.lawrenceks.org