Community Welcomes Takamatsu Student ambassadors to St PEtersburg

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (July 18, 2017) - While three St. Petersburg high school students return from visiting Takamatsu, Japan, St. Petersburg's Sister City, three high school students from Takamatsu will spend 10 days visiting the Sunshine City beginning July 24. The Takamatsu student ambassadors, Miho Samitsu, Misaki Nishizaka, and Motoki Hase, will live with host families during their stay, visiting local attractions and sharing their culture with the community.

The students will meet Mayor Rick Kriseman and make presentations about Takamatsu to members of the International Relations Committee at City Hall on July 25; at the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce on July 28; and during an August 1 farewell reception hosted by the St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society, Inc. (SPIFFS). The farewell reception, which will feature SPIFFS performing groups and samples of ethnic food delicacies, will take place at the Sunshine Center, 330 5th St. N. The public is invited to attend all community presentations. Other private activities include a Rays home game, a beach day, shuffleboard, and visits to The Dali, the Museum of History, Sunken Gardens, and a walking mural tour.

St. Petersburg's student ambassadors, Zachary Blair-Andrews, Chloe Johnson, and Deaja "Jenae" Henry, recently returned home after spending 10 days sharing American culture with their host families and Takamatsu city leaders, and sightseeing. They will make a presentation about their stay during a future City Council meeting.

For additional information about the Student Ambassador and Sister Cities exchange program, visit www.stpete.org/internationalrelations or contact Lotta Baumann, St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society, Inc., (SPIFFS) Executive Director, at 727-552-1896 or [email protected].