On Sunday, October 22, 2006 from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Traverse City West Junior High School, the TCAPS-supported  Traverse City Sister City  (TCSC) Cultural Exchange program will host an informal Japanese potluck meal for those involved in a student exchange occurring November 2 - 10, 2006. Nineteen students from Traverse City East Junior High School, Traverse City West Junior High School, and Traverse City Central High School are participating in an exchange with Koka City in Japan’s Shiga prefecture. The students will be accompanied by five Traverse City chaperones including Pat Gallagher and Mike Wolf, two TCAPS educators, and Pam Bailey, retired TCAPS educator.

The purpose of the potluck is to practice elements of Japanese dining including the use of chopsticks and Japanese conversational language skills. The authentic meal will be prepared by exchange students and their families. Special guests invited that evening will include members of TCAPS’ administration and supporters involved in the cultural education of the students. Although participation in the Cultural Exchange is encouraged by TCAPS, all travel expenses of the program are funded by the participating families and donations by the community.

In February 2006, Japanese Koka City students were welcomed into Traverse City host homes and attended school with the first group of ten Traverse City exchange students. In the spring of 2007, the second group of nine Traverse City host students and their families will extend the same hospitality to their Japanese friends when they arrive in Traverse City for a week.

Please contact TCSC Cultural Exchange Coordinators Mike Bailey or Pam Bailey at 946-8406 for more information.