Montebello–Ashiya Sister City Association
Each summer, students from Montebello and Ashiya cross the Pacific to experience daily life, build lasting friendships, and represent their communities abroad.
A People-to-People Exchange
The Montebello–Ashiya Student Ambassador Program gives high school students the opportunity to live with a host family, experience another culture firsthand, and serve as a representative of their home city. MASCA coordinates the Montebello program, while the Ashiya Cosmopolitan Association coordinates the program in Ashiya.
Since the exchange began in 1964, generations of students have taken part in this enduring sister-city tradition. The experience encourages cultural understanding, independence, leadership, and lifelong international friendship.
A Four-Week Cultural Exchange
After the interview process, two students are chosen as traveling student ambassadors and two students are chosen as host ambassadors. The same arrangement happens in Ashiya within their ACA (Ashiya Cosmopolitan Association). Traveling student ambassadors spend approximately three weeks visiting its sister city, but the full exchange unfolds over four weeks. Montebello students travel to Ashiya first, and one week later the Ashiya students depart for Montebello. This staggered schedule allows each group to welcome the other in its own hometown.
Two Montebello student ambassadors travel to Ashiya and begin their three-week stay with host families. During their first week, the Ashiya ambassadors help welcome them and introduce them to daily life, local activities, and the community.
One week after the Montebello students arrive in Japan, two Ashiya student ambassadors depart for Montebello to begin their own three-week stay. Meanwhile, the Montebello ambassadors continue their exchange experience in Ashiya.
When the Montebello ambassadors return home, the Ashiya students still have one week remaining in California. The Montebello students can now return the hospitality by showing their new friends around their own schools, families, and community.
At the end of the fourth week, the Ashiya ambassadors return home. By then, both groups have experienced life together in Ashiya and Montebello—as hosts, then as guests.
From Application to Departure
Exact dates may vary, but the program generally follows this schedule.
Students submit the annual application and all required materials.
Qualified applicants meet with MASCA representatives for an interview.
Ambassadors are selected and begin orientation, cultural preparation, travel planning, and paperwork.
The four-week international exchange takes place over the summer.
Prospective Ambassadors
For Families
The program is a reciprocal cultural exchange. In addition to traveling to Ashiya, Montebello student ambassadors and their families participate in welcoming the Ashiya students into their homes during the Montebello portion of the program.
This allows families to share daily life in Montebello and help visiting students feel welcomed and supported. Housing arrangements are coordinated separately; host ambassador families are not expected to house a visiting student–this responsibility lies with the families of ambassadors traveling to Ashiya. Specific responsibilities, schedules, and preparation requirements are reviewed with selected ambassadors and their families.
Parent Resource
This guide will provide families with detailed information about travel preparation, hosting responsibilities, required documents, important dates, and program expectations.
Supporting the Exchange at Home
Four Montebello ambassadors are selected in total. While two student ambassadors travel to Ashiya, two host ambassadors remain in Montebello and help make the visiting Ashiya students’ three-week stay in California welcoming, engaging, and memorable.
Travel to Ashiya for the international portion of the exchange.
Stay in Montebello and support the visiting Ashiya students throughout their stay.
Welcome the Ashiya students, help them feel included, and serve as a friendly point of connection throughout their time in Montebello.
Help introduce the visiting students to local life, community traditions, and the experiences that make Montebello and Southern California special.
Host ambassadors and their families are expected to participate in all or most of the activities planned for the three-week visit.
Common Questions
Applications generally open in February. Exact dates and the current application packet will be posted on the Application page.
Applicants submit the required materials and, if selected to continue, participate in interviews during March or April. Final selections are generally announced in May or June.
The full exchange unfolds over four weeks. Each group spends approximately three weeks in its sister city, with the schedules staggered so the students spend one week together in Ashiya and one week together in Montebello.
Montebello students travel to Ashiya first. One week later, the Ashiya students depart for Montebello. This allows the Ashiya ambassadors to welcome the Montebello students during their first week in Japan, and the Montebello ambassadors to return the hospitality during the Ashiya students’ final week in California.
Families of the two ambassadors traveling to Ashiya are expected to house the visiting students. Families of host ambassadors are not expected to house an Ashiya student. Both sets of ambassadors are expected to participate in all or most of the activities planned during the visitors’ three-week stay in California.
Selected ambassadors participate in orientation meetings, cultural preparation, travel planning, and completion of required program documents during May and June.
Applicants are not required to speak Japanese. However, students who have studied the language may find it helpful during their exchange experience.
Program costs vary depending on activities that families choose to participate in. MASCA provides a rough breakdown of expected costs during the application and orientation process.
Take the Next Step
Review the current application status or explore the students who have represented Montebello and Ashiya throughout the history of the exchange.