COLUMBIA, Mo.
March 27, 2009

Courtney Johnson of New London, Mo., has been selected for a yearlong internship in Japan through the University of Missouri Extension 4-H Center for Youth Development exchange program.

Johnson, a sophomore at MU, will travel to Japan in September to coordinate 4-H youth exchanges with the Tokyo-based Labo Foundation. She will be responsible for managing Japanese youth activities for Labo club members, assisting American students staying with Japanese host families during the summer and helping with orientation for Japanese high school students who will visit the United States.

Johnson has been to Japan before as an exchange student and she and her family have opened their home to Japanese students for month long summer visits and yearlong stays.

“The international exchange provides amazing opportunities for youth involved in these programs,” Johnson said. “I personally think it is far more rewarding to experience another country while living with a family rather than staying in the overly adaptive environment of a tourist attraction.”

Johnson said she’s looking forward many things, including the opportunity to visit Hitomi, a student her family hosted for a year.

“I want to learn the Japanese language so I can better communicate with the Labo members and their families. I'm also excited to get to know the other interns,” she said.

MU Extension 4-H offers month long youth and adult exchanges to Australia, Costa Rica, Finland and Norway as well as Japan. There also are opportunities for families to host students from abroad for month long or yearlong stays.

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Source:  Joyce Taylor, 573-882-6393

Amanda Stapp, senior information specialist
University of Missouri Cooperative Media Group