The Pennsylvania/Omiya (Saitama), Japan, Homestay Program

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), the Pennsylvania State Education Association, Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators and the Pennsylvania Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals jointly sponsor a two-week Homestay Program to Omiya, Japan, for Pennsylvania educators. The program is designed for a Pennsylvania educator to spend two weeks in the home of a Japanese educator and learn about their educational system. The Japanese then come to Pennsylvania the following year to stay with Pennsylvania educators.

In July of 2001, approximately 15 Pennsylvania educators will be visiting Japanese educators in Omiya, Japan. (The city of Omiya will be known as Saitama starting May 1, 2001.) The delegation will arrive on July 20 and depart on July 29. Presently, 11 applications have been received by the PDE.

If you are interested in participating in the program or want additional information, contact Theona Waxbom, PDE, at (717) 787-3470.