Hiratsuka and Lawrence Sister Cities

Celebrating the Growing Relationship between Hiratsuka and Lawrence Articles Written by University of Kansas senior Rae Anderson, in Fall 2004, as part of a Service Learning Project for the Kansas-Asia Scholars Program

Sister City Exchange Program Flourishes

Every June, a group of selected students and teachers from Lawrence spend ten days in Hiratsuka as a part of an annual Student Exchange program. The program began in 1990, when students from Hiratsuka visited Lawrence. The next summer Lawrence followed suit sending twelve students and four teachers to Hiratsuka for a weeklong stay led by Randy Weseman. Over the last 14 years the program has expanded with 24 students participating in 2004.

The students participants range from the seventh to the twelfth graders. Eligibility is determined by an application process which includes writing of an essay and submission of a letter of recommendation, due each year in early December. The program coordinators select students among applicants balanced by gender, age, and school. After being selected, the students sign contractual agreements requiring participation in a series of orientation sessions throughout the following spring.

Fourteen groups of students have participated in the student exchange program, with most visiting Hiratsuka during June. However, two groups have visited in July in order to experience the annual Tanabata festival in Hiratsuka, which is a nationally famous festival in Japan. The students visit Hiratsuka for ten days, residing part of the time in a dormitory and part of the time experiening a home stay with a Japanese family. Hiratsuka continues to send students to Lawrence usually in the end of July. The Japanese students stay for about at a week at a home stay with a local family.

Current City Commissioner and retired Lawrence school district teacher, Sue Hack, has participated in four trips with the group. Her most vivid memory was of the tenth anniversary trip, in which the group got to see the Tanabata festival. Hack said, "It was amazing to see one million people in a city the size of Lawrence…the sounds, smells, and the experience was amazing." Hack also said that the most important part of the trip is the enduring friendships made.

For any questions or comments, please contact
Michael Tubbs at: mtubbs@ci.lawrence.ks.us