410-715-3162
E-mail: International@ColumbiaAssociation.com

The mission of CA's International Exchange & Multicultural Programs (formerly known as the "Sister Cities Program") is to foster international understanding and to celebrate the diverse cultures of Columbia. CA's International Exchange Program's expanded its goals and objectives include developing new exchanges with Columbia's two sister cities, Cergy-Pontoise and Tres Cantos, and creating new Sister City relationships in other cities and nations. CA also develops multicultural programs, such as the International Book Club and Culture Cafés for the community.

Columbia's Sister Cities - International Exchange Programs

Experience a different culture and travel abroad! The International Exchange Program offers exchange opportunities for adults with Columbia's Sister Cities, Cergy-Pontoise (France) and Tres Cantos (Spain.)

Cergy-Pointoise (18 miles outside Paris): The sister city relationship between Columbia, Maryland, and Cergy-Pontoise, France, was established in 1977 and reaffirmed in 2002, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the relationship. The Columbia/Cergy-Pontoise Proclamation

Tres Cantos (13 miles outside Madrid): The relationship between Columbia, Maryland, and Tres Cantos, Spain was established in 1990. The Columbia/Tres Cantos Proclamation

Tema, Ghana (16 miles from Accra): Columbia may soon have a third sister city. In October, the CA Board of Directors approved a proposal to develop a new sister city relationship with Tema, a planned community in Ghana. CA's International Exchange & Multicultural Programs Department is seeking volunteers to join the Tema (Ghana) Sister City Committee to help establish a formal Columbia-Tema partnership. The committee will lay the groundwork for international exchange programs for youths and adults in areas such as art, music, business, sports and education. Committee members should be Columbia/Howard County residents with an interest in actively developing this international relationship. The committee is seeking both adult and teen members. Interested participants should contact CA Multicultural Program Manager Laura Smit at 410-715-3162 or International@ColumbiaAssociation.com for more information.

TYPES OF EXCHANGES:

Cuisine Exchanges: In October of 2010, Columbia residents visited Cergy-Pontoise for a week of cuisine lessons, dining at local restaurants, visits to farms and markets and sightseeing. Participants lived with host families. In April, 2011, Columbia will host French visitors from Cergy-Pontoise for a week here of "Maryland Cuisine & Culture." Another exchange with Columbia/Howard County residents going to France is planned for Fall 2011.

Cultural & Business Exchanges: From time to time, CA organizes cultural and business exchanges. In the past there have been exchanges of people and information involving artists, musicians, student athletes, senior citizens and business leaders. Residents from Howard County travel abroad for one week hosted by our French or Spanish counterparts and participate in activities selected for the particular exchange (e.g. art shows, soccer tournaments.) A reciprocal exchange may occur in the following year.

Home and Hospitality Exchanges: CA will assist Howard County residents interested in doing a home exchange by making contact with an interested partner in Tres Cantos or Cergy-Pontoise. In a Home Exchange, participants swap houses for a given period agreed upon by the participants. The Hospitality Exchange is a reciprocal home-stay exchange, in which participants from Columbia stay with their exchange partners in their home for a given period of time and vice versa.

State Department International Visitors Program: Columbia families can host an international visitor who is part of a planned State Department or USAID study group. These visits are coordinated by the World Trade Center Institute in Baltimore. Families who are interested in hosting can send an email to international@columbiaassociation.com

The Columbia Association is a member of Sister Cities International.

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Multicultural Programs

International Book Club: CA's International Book Club meets monthly to explore multicultural and international themes. All books are selected by participants. Through a partnership with Howard County Library, the book selections are reserved each month at the East Columbia branch. All books are in English. Some of the books read to date include: Balzac & the Little Chinese Seamstress (China); Things Fall Apart (Nigeria); How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent (Dominican Republic); The White Tiger (India) and Finding Nouf (Saudi Arabia.) Upcoming books are The Year I Smelled Like Milk: Stories from Beijing and Beyond (China) by Michael Hobson (March 9) and Small island (Jamaica) by Andrea Levy. Meetings are held at 7:30 p.m., alternating between the Columbia Art Center and the East Columbia Library. For more information or to join the International Book Club, please call 410-715-3162 or e-mail International@ColumbiaAssociation.com.

Culture Café: Culture Café is an initiative created by International Exchange and Multicultural Programs that recognizes the many cultures from around the world that make up Columbia's diverse community. Community members including exchange students studying in Howard County schools volunteer to help organize, perform at and assist the day of these events. E-mail International@ColumbiaAssociation.com to get involved! Culture Café events are free and open to the public.

Columbia International Day: (Saturday, July 23, 2011 • 2-10 pm., Downtown Columbia Lakefront) The event, first held in 1995, highlights and celebrates the cultural and ethnic diversity that distinguishes Columbia and provides an opportunity to meet the visiting French and Spanish students and chaperones from Columbia's two Sister Cities. Students who have traveled to France and Spain provide information about the summer student exchange. Columbia International Day includes live music and dance performances representing a variety of cultures, international food and crafts vendors and children's activities. Additional information will be posted here as available or contact dale.wasmus@columbiaassociation.com. Visit ColumbiaCalendar.org for schedule of events.

Visit columbiacalendar.org for schedule of events

• 2011 Columbia International Day Vendor Application
• 2011 Columbia International Day Food Vendor Application.

International & Multicultural Advisory Committee (IMAC): The mission of the International & Multicultural Advisory Committee is to inform and advise CA staff and volunteers on community needs, interests and concerns as they relate to international exchange & multicultural programs. The goal is to enhance international understanding through people-to-people relationships. Members come from the community, with some members representing Columbia Villages and others being at-large members coming from Columbia/Howard County. Advisory Committee members assist in developing new projects, disseminating information, stimulating understanding and interest in other cultures and peoples, and offering volunteer assistance at events or programs.

To learn more about any of these programs, call Laura Smit, Program Manager, at 410-715-3162 or e-mail International@ColumbiaAssociation.com.

Programs for teens are also offered.

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