Twenty high-school girls from Kyoritsu, Japan are coming to the Coast next month for a study tour, and they need your help.
Two male teachers are accompanying the group, who will be in Gibsons from July 23 to Aug. 10.
On most weekday mornings, students will be attending Elphinstone Secondary School for English classes, and then will spend the afternoons doing local activities, such as picking blueberries and participating in softball and ultimate Frisbee.
The students were originally scheduled to visit last summer, but due to H1N1 they were forced at the last minute to cancel their travel plans. Now they are coming and are very excited about meeting local families, learning about daily life in a home, practising their English, and sharing their culture with families as they enjoy three weeks in the life of a local family.
They will also join the Gibsons Sea Cavalcade parade July 24, dressed in their traditional yukatas.
But first, the local exchange co-ordinator is asking for help from the community to offer homes to host the students or one of the two male teacher/chaperones.
Tamara Forsyth, a teacher with School District No. 46, has been meeting with families to help them get ready for the visit, and she still needs eight more homes.
If you are interested in hosting a student, or know a neighbour, friend or family member who would be interested, please contact Forsyth at 604-740-6386 or by email at [email protected]. Host families will be compensated.
Forsyth is also looking for youth aged 14 to 18 who would like to spend an afternoon or two with these students playing softball and ultimate Frisbee - refreshments provided.
-Submitted
