August 30, 2007

Busy summer for Sister Cities
Host families sought for Japanese university women to experience American home life.
By BARBARA GIASONE STAFF WRITER

From 13th century ruins at Tzintzuntzan to tile roofs in Patzcuaro, a 23-member tour group from Fullerton enjoyed the flavor of Mexico this month during a visit to sister city Morelia, Mexico.

Other side trips included a tour of Guadalajara with its central plaza, tequila plants and distilleries and a visit to the Urapan National Park.

A meeting with Morelia Mayor Carlos Macouzet proved a highlight of the trip for Fullerton Mayor Pro Tem Sharon Quirk, who brought gifts from her city. Macouzet, in turn, presented samples from his city’s candy industry.

The two cities also reconfirmed their support for the Sister City programs, which includes adult tours and the Junior Ambassador Exchange Program.

“The mayor also offered to open his home to Fullerton’s visitors,” Quirk said. “And we talked about preservation in our historic areas.”

In addition to Quirk, the tour group included Ana Christenson, Monika Broome, Dennis Hittle, Sandra Orosco, Bob Rineer, Debbie Thomas, Paige Thomas, Carl Richards and Nancy Holmes.

In other Fullerton Sister City programs, five female college-age exchange students from Jin-ai University near Fukui, Japan will attend Cal State Fullerton Sept. 9-20.

Organizers are looking for local families who could host the women during the weekend of Sept. 15 and 16 for a glimpse of American culture and home life. The guests are fluent in English. Interested parties are asked to call Mike Oates at 714-871-6206.

In July, 10 Junior Ambassadors and two chaperones from Morelia visited Fullerton. One visitor’s son secretly slipped into town and proposed to the Morelia chaperone near Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at Disneyland.

Twelve Junior Ambassadors from Fullerton visited sister city Yong-In, Korea this month.

For more information on the Sister City programs, log on to www.fullertonsistercity.org.