A GROUP of students from our Japanese sister city Handa is making memories during a five-day visit to the Hastings.
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They enjoyed an official welcome on Friday at Port Macquarie-Hastings Council's headquarters.
Steve Donovan played the didgeridoo and mayor Peter Besseling welcomed the Handa Higashi Senior High School students and teachers in Japanese before reverting to English.
Cr Besseling told the group members he hoped they had an enjoyable time in Australia.
The calendar of events include a barbecue lunch at Sister City Park, visits to the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre and Billabong Koala and Wildlife Park, and a farewell function at the Port City Bowling Club.
Handa Higashi Senior High School PTA president Seiichi Yamada said the students would be exposed to a foreign culture during the visit.
"I believe this will be a wonderful memory for them," he said.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council maintains a sister city relationship with the Japanese city of Handa.
Each year, students and teachers from Handa Higashi Senior High School spend five days visiting Port Macquarie to learn more about our culture and way of life.
High schools from the region take turns to host the students.
Families from St Columba Anglican School are billeting the students this year.
St Columba Anglican School principal Terry Muldoon said the experience gave the students a broader view of the world.
"They get to meet kids, often their own age, who have a totally different background," he said.
Sister City Sub-Committee member Patricia Johnson said the sister city relationship gave many people the opportunity to experience another culture and develop friendships which had continued for many years. The sister city relationship will mark its 25th year anniversary next year.
