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. In January 2010, CA's International Exchange & Multicultural Program, expanded its goals and objectives beyond exchanges with Columbia's two sister cities, Cergy-Pontoise and Tres Cantos, to promoting new exchanges and relationships with communities in other cities and nations.

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

TYPES OF EXCHANGES:

Cuisine Exchange: Culinary adventure in France scheduled for October 8 - 17, 2010
The Columbia Association (CA) is offering a French Cuisine & Cultural Exchange with Columbia's Sister City, Cergy-Pontoise, in France from October 8 thru 17. Up to eight cuisine participants - who may take a spouse or friend (maximum of 16 people) - will stay with host families in Cergy-Pontoise. The eight cuisine participants will attend two afternoons of French cooking classes-complete with chef coat and hat-and demonstrations of food preparation and consumption. Classes will be taught in English at Lycée Eragny. The week will culminate with a dinner prepared by cuisine participants.

All participants will tour a cheese farm and sample cheeses, shop for seasonal produce at a traditional French market and savor traditional French cuisine and wines during specially-arranged meals at local restaurants and in families’ homes. There will also be sightseeing trips to Paris and places of interest in and around Cergy-Pontoise, which is located about a half hour outside of Paris. Knowledge of French is useful, but not necessary. French participants will come to Columbia in 2011.

The cost of the trip is $400 for CA Residents and $450 for non-residents, plus airfare (~$1,200.) To apply, please complete the Program Application Deadline for registration is Sept. 24. For more information, please contact Laura Smit, Program Manager for International Exchange &Multicultural Programs, at 410-715-3162 or Laura.Smit@ColumbiaAssociation.com.

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.

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 the second Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at Columbia Art Center. This book club explores 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); Pompeii (Italy); and The White Tiger (India). For more information or to join the Club, please call 410-715-3162 or e-mail International@ColumbiaAssociation.com. Columbia Art Center is located at 6100 Foreland Garth in Columbia.

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, July 24th from 12 noon to 10pm: 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. New this year will be a Columbia International Village highlighting groups who work with international residents of the community, and showcasing arts and crafts and native dress. Click here for more information.

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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