Vladimir-Canterbury Sister City Association of Bloomington-Normal
Education Committee
Current Activites
RUSSIAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ENROLL IN LOCAL SCHOOLS
Again this year, the Association is sponsoring two students from Vladimir, Russia, to attend school in Bloomington/Normal. Since our first exchange student enrolled in University High School in 1995, another 14 outstanding young people have become acquainted with America “up close and personal.”
We extend a hearty welcome to Polina Karyakina and Tanya Smyslova . We are grateful to the host families, the schools, and the community for making this extraordinary educational venture possible!
Future Activites
Our Sister City Association in Vladimr, Russia will welcome two high school students from Bloomington/Normal in June, 2006 for two weeks. The students were selected by reviewing written applications and interviewing the interested students. Traveling together this year will be Harirajan (Hari) Mani, son of Mani Rajagopal and Usha Mani and Genevieve (Jenny) Crow, daughter of Galen and Gail Crow. Hari is currently a Junior at Normal Community High School and Jenny is a Freshman at University High. Both have some experience with other cultures, Hari grew up in India moving to Saudi Arabia and then to the United States. Jenny traveled to Japan for two weeks last summer with the Asahikawa Sister City Committee Exchange program. Both of them are open to cultural diversity and have an interest in experiencing other countries to experience their lifestyle and customs.
The features of the exchange will offer:
- Opportunity to live with a Russian Host family with an English-Speaking teenager
- Joint social activities for Russian and American youth
- Dining with different ethnic families (Armenian, Georgian and Russian Cuisines)
- Tours of historical sites and selected high schools and a local university
- Souvenir shopping in Vladimir, Moscow, Suzdal and Gus-Krustalny
The students have agreed to be available to share their experiences at our annual picnic and with other groups at school or in the community.
Want to get involved? Become a host family for a student next year. For information contact Orlyn Edge at edge@ilstu.edu