Oaxaca, Mexico

Palo Alto-area teens can experience first-hand how families in Oaxaca live by participating in this genuine two-way exchange. After students spend approximately four weeks with a host family in Oaxaca, their Mexican brother or sister comes to the Palo Alto area to spend equal time with the exchange student’s family.

Palo Alto participants are eligible to earn student community service credits in connection with their participation in certain activities in Oaxaca.

Student diplomacy and sustainability are themes of the program, with the students having various opportunities for discussions and exchanges of ideas on a host of topics, including the roles of our Sister Cities. Students visiting Oaxaca will have the opportunity to see first-hand the forested community near our Sister City that is part of the groundbreaking Palo Alto-Oaxaca carbon offset program.

At the conclusion of the program, students will earn a commendation as a student diplomat.

Eligibility: Applicants should be high school students at least 15 years old who are studying Spanish at any level. Rising juniors and seniors preferred.

How to participate: Please contact Sarah Burgess at sarah.burgess@neighborsabroad.org

Tsuchiura, Japan

The reciprocal middle school program with our Japanese Sister City, Tsuchiura, has been running for decades. It pre-dates even the official Sister City relationship.

Families in the Palo Alto area have typically hosted students from Tsuchiura in March. Then during the summer, the Palo Alto students stay with the family of the Tsuchiura student they hosted, shadowing their student for two days of middle school in Japan. In addition to the homestay portion of the trip, the groups normally also visit many historical and cultural sites in Japan including Tokyo, Nikko, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Himeji Castle.

Past participants of the long-running Tsuchiura Exchange program have expressed genuine gratitude for their involvement in this program. Many families have established a lasting connection with their Japanese friends.

How to participate: Please contact Evelyn Shimazaki at evelyn.shimazaki@neighborsabroad.org

Albi, France

After a hiatus, the Albi-Palo Alto exchange program is back. This is a highly flexible program in terms of dates, the duration of the exchange and other variables. Neighbors Abroad will work with you, and with families in Albi, to craft just the right program for all involved.

The exchange is open to Palo Alto-area teens who want to live with a family in Albi (some ability with French is desired, but is not mandatory) and to young people from Albi who want to experience life in Silicon Valley. Exchanges can be one-way or reciprocal.

Click here for more information about Albi, a charming town on the Tarn River with many opportunities for outdoor adventure nearby.

How to participate: Please contact Jennifer Kleckner at jennifer.kleckner@neighborsabroad.org