09/20/2023
Livermore Yotsukaido Sister City Organization
LYSCO
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Contact: Keith Jess-President LYSCO at
[email protected]
For Immediate Release
Kon’nichiwa! Livermore Yotsukaido Sister City Cultural Exchange Program to Restart After Covid Pause
September 2023 – After having to pause the Livermore Yotsukaido Sister City (LYSCO) program due to COVID-19, the two cities are ready to resume the popular exchange in October 2024. Founded in 1977, the cultural exchange program aims to create lasting bonds of friendship, acceptance, and education between students in the cities of Livermore and Yotsukaido, Chiba, Japan. Yotsukaido is a city of similar population and socio-economic circumstances to those of Livermore and is located about 40 miles from Tokyo.
In 2001, it was time to re-energize the sister city relationship, and the middle school student exchange program was started. In October, middle school students from Livermore visit Yotsukaido for a week. They stay with local families with students the same age, going to school with them, experiencing the daily life of a typical Japanese family, and touring the region. In March the Yotsukaido students come to Livermore and reunite with their friends from the October visit. Here they enjoy school and participate in American life. Lifelong friendships have formed over their shared cultures, interests, and experiences. The students from both cities not only gain new friends in a faraway country, they also gain respect for a different culture and traditions. They make memories for a lifetime, learning that distance, language, and culture are no obstacle to lasting friendships.
Livermore Mayor John Marchand has long been a supporter of the program. “For 45 years, Livermore has treasured our Sister City relationship with Yotsukaido, Japan. As we come out of the recent pandemic, we welcome the renewal of our student exchange program and the enduring friendships that it has fostered,” Mayor Marchand recently stated.
Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD) partners with LYSCO and is already working on plans to welcome the Yotsukaido students to their schools with special programs, tours, and bonding activities. "We look forward to the return of the Livermore-Yotsukaido Sister City Organization's student exchange program. It gives our students an incredible opportunity to travel abroad and immerse themselves in another culture. We also look forward to welcoming students from Yotsukaido to observe our customs and way of life in our schools and community. We are fortunate to have a longstanding, dedicated organization like LYSCO that
continues to bring these opportunities to our youth," stated LVJUSD Superintendent Chris Van Schaack.
As a Student Ambassador, Nola McAllister got to share the knowledge gained from when she was part of the student exchange. Previous Student Ambassadors meet with the Livermore students answering questions, sharing their cultural experiences, and easing the expected fears of traveling to another country. “I was selected as a student ambassador for the Livermore-Yotsukaido exchange program in 2019. I had the best experience of my life learning and immersing myself in a new culture, trying new foods, meeting new people, adhering to new customs, and learning a little bit of the language. The opportunity allowed me to further my leadership skills and grow as a human being in a world that extends beyond just one town and country,” Nola shared.
Student Ambassador Claudia Bui shared, “To say that this experience has made an impact on my life is an understatement. LYSCO has been described as a cultural exchange between two cities, but it has brought lifelong friendships that I have maintained since my travels to Japan. This unique opportunity to travel with other students and live with a host family has taught me many valuable insights. I highly recommend and encourage students to apply to this program so that they can have the experience of a lifetime.
The adult chaperones and delegates that accompany the students have also made lifetime friends, and shared traditions and cultural experiences. Many of these friendships for both students and adults have lasted through the decades, becoming extended family. Monique McAllister was a chaperone, escorting 20 students to Japan. The adventure reinforced her love for the LYSCO cultural exchange. “I was one of the selected chaperones for the Livermore-Yotsukaido 2019 exchange and participated in the year-long preparation ahead of departure. Being part of the LYSCO-Yotsukaido experience was not only a sister-city cultural exchange, but a continuation of our enduring global connections,” Monique said.
Students entering 7th grade in the Fall of 2023 are welcome to apply in Spring 2024. The trip will be conducted in October of 2024. The date of the mandatory informational meeting will be published soon. Interested students and a parent must attend this meeting. Due to the popularity of the program and the limited number of spaces available there is an application and interview process. Once applicants are chosen, they will meet frequently to learn more about how the program works, customs to follow, and food they can expect to try! In addition, they get helpful tips from past participants. Follow Livermore Yotsukaido Sister City Organization (LYSCO) on Facebook for the latest information as it becomes available.
More information can be found at our website: https://lyscoorg.wordpress.com.
