Bloomington Normal Sister Cities
This program is funded by the City of Bloomington and the Town of Normal.
To be eligible for this program you must:
Attend District 87 or Unit 5 High School or be a resident of Bloomington/Normal and attend a private high school.
Important Dates:
- March 7th, Sunday 2-3:30pm - Informational meeting for students and parents at Bloomington Public Library Community Room
- March 31st, Wednesday 5 pm - Applications due
- April 7th, Wednesday 5 pm - 8:30 pm Student/Parent Interviews
- Application
- An essay describing themselves
- An essay describing their view of the program
- The complete application
- 2 - Sealed letters of recommdation
- High school transcript
Questions? Contact Maho Gramm BN Sister Cities Sr. High to Asahikawa Chairwoman
About the program
Studying abroad for ten months is one of the premier programs sponsored by the Bloomington-Normal-Asahikawa Sister Cities Committee. Senior high students are offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Each year, the Committee selects one student to spend ten months in Asahikawa, living with host parents and attending school. Applications are typically available at Bloomington-Normal high schools or from committee members beginning in January/February.
Applicants are asked to tell about themselves, their families, their interests and their availability for training before departure.
The application process also involves letters of recommendation from adults and their high school transcript so that the committee can best determine which student is most likely to complete the requirements of the 10-month exchange.
Students and parents are also interviewed by the committee, with selection of student ambassadors occurring in March or April.
An alternate student is selected as well. Both students are required to attend a series of classes for a "crash course" in the basics of Japanese language and culture. The committee also works with the selected student to complete and to acquire the needed travel documents.
Students typically leave for Asahikawa in late July or early August and returns to the USA in June the following year. Students receive a monthly stipend while in Japan and have regular contact with officials in the International Affairs Office at Asahikawa's City Hall and with the Sister Cities Committee there.
The Bloomington-Normal-Asahikawa Sister Cities Committee covers the cost of airfare to and from Japan.
After their return, exchange students are often called upon to accompany the Sister cities Committee members at speaking engagements and to serve as "goodwill ambassadors" for the Sister Cities program in the twin cities.