Volunteers needed to become 'Community Friends' with AUAP students

Western Washington University’s Asia University America Program seeks 30 individuals and families to support its Community Friends Program, designed to match students who recently arrived from Asia University in Tokyo, Japan with families and individuals from the greater Bellingham community for conversation, friendship, and cultural exchange.

Community Friends volunteer to invite AUAP students into their homes at least one time during their intensive five-month stay in Bellingham. The visit allows the students to see an American home, experience family life, and share some elements of Japanese culture.

Community Friends will be meet their student(s) at a gathering on Western’s campus, Thursday, March 20. Community Friends are also invited to several AUAP events including its signature Japan Night celebration, as well as a picnic and the AUAP Closing Ceremony and Reception.

“There is no need to plan special activities to entertain the students; just include them in the things you or your family do such as cooking dinner, playing games, bicycling, hiking, watching movies and just talking,” said Robbie Oyama, Western Washington University Student Services adviser. “AUAP students also look forward to sharing Japanese culture with their Community Friends, and hopefully time spent together will be a rewarding cultural exchange.”

"WWU's AUAP Community Friends Program is an opportunity to get involved in an excellent program that engages participants in learning about diversity of thought and people. Taking the students out for pizza at La Fiamma, sharing meals at home, having ice cream at Mallard, and bowling downtown allowed us to enjoy and share everyday American life with them,” said Shar Sarte Prince, who volunteers as a Community Friend. “In my experience, the best part was seeing my daughter try a homemade Japanese meal that our students prepared for us. Japanese stew is delicious! I appreciate the opportunities I had for personal growth and to be able to give back to students.”

Western Washington University and Asia University have a history of friendship and cooperation which goes back to the late 1970's. In 1988, Western and Asia University built on their long-standing relationship by developing a pilot English language and cultural orientation program for Asia University students. This pilot program proved to be so successful that Western was asked to facilitate the expansion of the program to additional universities in the Pacific Northwest and to coordinate the development of the Asia University America Program (AUAP) Consortium. Since 1988, more than 10,000 Japanese students have come to the Pacific Northwest as part of the AUAP, with about 4,000 (an average of 150 per year) coming to Western.

For more information on becoming a Community Friend, please contact Robbie Oyama by Thursday, March 13 at 360-650-2129 or robin.oyama@wwu.edu, or visit the “Getting Involved” section of AUAP’s website, www.wwu.edu/auap.