St. Petersburg Students to Engage in Cultural Exchange Program

Students from St. Petersburg prepare for their cultural exchange trip to Japan.

News Summary

Three St. Petersburg students have been selected for a summer cultural exchange program in Takamatsu, Japan. This initiative aims to enhance international relations and cultural awareness, allowing students to experience life in another country while engaging in educational activities and cultural immersion. The exchange is part of a long-standing partnership established in 1961, fostering mutual understanding through shared experiences. Students will stay with host families, attend school, and explore local cultural sites, promoting lasting connections between the two cities.

St. Petersburg students will participate in a summer cultural exchange program in Takamatsu, Japan, enhancing international relationships and cultural awareness. Three local students have been selected to experience life in Japan and will travel in July to engage in a series of educational and cultural activities.

The upcoming exchange program is part of a long-standing student ambassador initiative that began in 1988, nearly 40 years ago. This year, three pairs of students from each city will swap locations and reside with host families for two weeks. Additionally, they will attend high school together for two days, experiencing the educational systems and cultural environments of one another firsthand.

During their time abroad, the participating students will explore various cultural sites, present information about their cities to local leaders, and participate in discussions that reveal both cultural similarities and differences. The president of the St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society noted the program’s overarching goal of enhancing cultural understanding and connection between the two cities.

More than a dozen students applied for this selective program, which is open exclusively to those residing in St. Petersburg. Among the selected students is Jayda Parkes-Quarrie, who attends St. Petersburg Collegiate High School. She expressed enthusiasm for the cultural exposure, looking forward to showcasing local attractions such as the Pier and various dining venues to her visiting Japanese counterparts.

The Sister City relationship between St. Petersburg and Takamatsu, which began in 1961, is founded on mutual attributes like climate, size, and coastal geography. The city’s name, Takamatsu, translates to “tall pine,” reflecting a shared connection with the pine trees prominent in Pinellas County, where St. Petersburg is located.

Over the decades, St. Petersburg and Takamatsu have exchanged numerous delegations and cultural leaders, fostering closer ties and understanding through shared experiences. In a continued effort to strengthen this relationship, an Eckerd College graduate has been traveling to Japan every year for the past several years to teach English for a year, introducing American educational practices in a cross-cultural environment.

Looking to the future, St. Petersburg’s Mayor Ken Welch has outlined plans to visit Takamatsu next year, potentially paving the way for further collaborative projects and mutual comprehension between the two cities.

This summer’s exchange marks yet another milestone in the ongoing cultural dialogue between St. Petersburg and Takamatsu, promising exciting opportunities for the students involved and enriching the broader community through enhanced international connection.