Gastonia Sister Cities, Inc. is a citizen based organization established to foster and promote friendships and mutual understandings between the people of the Gastonia area and foreign countries, through partnerships in education, culture, economic development and dialogue.
Gotha, Germany
Santiago de Surco, Peru
Our friends from Gotha, Germany arrived tired but excited to Gastonia on Wednesday, October 8th. 12 students, two chaperones and their son made their way across the Atlantic to spend 13 days with us! Their first official day in Gastonia was spent attending a World Regional Geography class at Gaston College taught by a Sister Cities Advisory Board Member Brian DiBartolo. After the class, the students were welcomed by the college's Study Tours Program and were provided an American meal of pizza, salad, and their first glass of sweet tea. The students then went on to Kings Mountain National Military Park.
This past weekend the students, plus some of their host students traveled by train to Washington D.C. They had a great time touring our Nation's Capital! Monday, will be spent attending school with their host student. Tuesday, they will meet with Mayor Jennie and go to the Schiele Museum. Wednesday, they will go to Charlotte and visit Discovery Place, tour Panther Stadium and go White Water Rafting. Thursday, will be spent touring Old Salem and Friday, back to school for the last time. There will be a farewell party on Sunday as they depart Monday morning
On Tuesday, our German friends met with Mayor Jennie and had a great conversation in the council chambers about the upcoming election and who they would vote for if they were able to here in America. There were very strong opinions for both sides and it made for a great time with the Mayor. After touring City Hall and the Garland Center the students were off via our city's transit bus to the Schiele Museum.
Wednesday was unanimously voted as the best day! The day started with a fun bus ride on a Gaston County School Bus, a first school bus ride for the students, to Charlotte's Discovery Place where they toured the Pompeii exhibit. Then it was off for a tour of Panther's Stadium. The Panther's players were actually there; however, the students were only able to view the fancy cars and SUV's they drove. They were all very impressed by the size of the stadium and many of them are looking forward to visiting the stadium again for this Sunday's game with their host families! White Water Rafting proved to be completely amazing as the weather was absolutely perfect for rafting. Both German students and their American host students had an afternoon of adventure. They braved the waves and were all completely soaked but all wanted to go again!
Thursday was spent touring Old Salem which was settled by Germans in 1766. The students learned about what life was like when their ancestors first arrived to America and spent the afternoon wandering through the buildings and tasting their sweat treats.
Applications now being accepted for the 2008-2009 school year
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Applications can be picked up at the Webb Theatre or by calling 704-854-6602.
Also for additional information please contact Gastonia Sister Office 704-854-6602.
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