Would You Be Willing To Host A Japanese Exchange Student In Salem?

SALEM, MA — Salem families are being sought to host Japanese middle school students as part of the city's annual cultural exchange program with students in Ota-ka in Tokyo.

The three-decade program has helped Salem develop a deep cultural relationship with its sister city as Salem students travel to Japan and 28 middle-school-age students come to Salem for a week of English language and cultural immersion.

With the students arriving in about three months, the exchange is still looking for host families for 11 more boys and two more girls.

Students will arrive in the late afternoon on July 20 and stay with their host families until the morning of July 28. There are no Japanese language skills necessary to serve as a host family, as the students have basic English language proficiency.

Visiting students are required to have their own bed. However, sharing a bedroom with other students in the home is acceptable. Host families do not need to plan special activities for the visiting students during their stay, as they will look forward to experiencing everyday life in Salem.

The students (and their five chaperones) will have a full schedule during their stay, visiting Mayor Dominck Pangallo, the Salem Police Station, the Salem Fire Station, the State House to meet Representatives Joan Lovely and Manny Cruz, and the Peabody Essex Museum.

Drop-offs and pick-ups will be in a downtown Salem location, around 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. and 4:30 to 5 p.m., respectively.

Host families are required to already have one or more children in their home, ideally aged 10-16 years old.

Salem families have hosted 812 Japanese students, and 126 American students have visited Japan from Salem.

North Shore families interested in volunteering to host a student from Ota, or in learning more information, should email otasalem@cs.salem.