Traveling

Every year, ten students travel to Japan with the Casco Bay Japan Exchange Program. They spend approximately six days in Namioka/Aomori staying with host families. Our travelers visit historic places, eat the local food, participate in educational activities and have fun!

The 2020 Travel Dates are July 28-August 7. After our homestay in Aomori, our group will spend two days touring and experiencing Sapporo, in Japan's northern island.

Casco Bay Japan Exchange Summer Homestay/Travel Selection Process

We select 10 students to travel to Japan each summer. Because there are usually more than 10 students who are interested in the trip, we have developed a process through which we will select those students who will travel to Japan.

The selection process has five parts:

1. The Long Form/Self-Assessment Questionnaire and Travel Profile

2. The Adult Recommendation: Please find an adult (other than a family member) who knows you well enough to answer several questions about you. Put their names on your application with contact information

3. The Creative Project: The student can choose between writing an essay or creating a visual representation that answers the following question:

How will you be a good representative of Cumberland, North Yarmouth and Yarmouth, Maine and the United States of America? How will you help to promote peace between our two cultures?

4. The Presentation: Students will prepare and present to the selection committee, a five-minute oral presentation that will focus on the work done to complete the creative project.

5. The Interview: Following the presentation, each student will meet with the selection committee for 5-10 minutes and answer questions. The committee is interested in enthusiasm, communication skills, and depth of answers which demonstrate that the student has given the Homestay/Travel project strong consideration.