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APR 7 2015
To whom it may concern
ciTV OF FORT ANGELES
In May, a group of Port Angeles officials and two high school stud T CLERK
together to our sister city, Mutsu City, Japan, for the twentieth year anniversary of the
PIRA/MIRA group. As the only two high school students going with the Peninsula International
Relations Associations (PIRA), we, Alyssa and Matt, are working together to fundraise and
receive support from others for our trip. On May 1 Ith, we will fly out of Seattle and land near
Tokyo, where our adventure begins. The things that we will be doing will consist of, touring
Hiroshima, going to Disneyland, seeing the golden pavilion,the Edo Museum, and much more.
After touring many places throughout Japan, we will then head over to Mutsu City,to meet and
stay with our host families. Knowing that we will be staying with the same students that we
hosted this fall, we are very excited to meet again and live with them, like they lived with us. In
Mutsu, we will be having the Twentieth Anniversary Dinner with our families and the
community, we will be having a big get together at Tanabu Senior High School, and of course
experience the Japanese culture with our host families.
My name is Alyssa Wetzler and I am from Port Angeles, Washington. Port Angeles is
definitely a gorgeous place to live, and I am so happy to have grown up here, and meet and share
memories with the people around me. I am a senior at Port Angeles High School and I am also a
Running Start student up at the Peninsula Community College. Taking classes at the college for
my junior and senior year was my best choice as a student and an athlete. Some don't join the
program because they might miss out on things that are going on at the high school. Although I
wasn't at the high school for very many classes, I was still involved in all sorts of extra activities.
I was the varsity volleyball captain, I was the Princess for homecoming royalty, I was part of the
gymnastics team and I even competed in State, I am currently on the varsity softball team, and I
have been part of the Orchestra program for all four years of high school. Most importantly, I am
very involved with the Japanese Exchange program, I have hosted five girls the past four years
of high school and have found that the Japanese culture and exchange is just a part of me. The
friendships that I have made with the girls that live in Mutsu will be remembered forever, and
getting to go and meet them once again has been a dream for me. Once the Peninsula
International Relations Association(PIRA) reached out to me, I realized that my dream will
come true. Of course, with my parents help, my new job, and some fundraising, my classmate
Matt and I will get to enjoy a trip of a lifetime together. If you need to contact me, my personal
phone number is 360.477.3041, email: a.wetzler20,cPoutlook.com and home address: 3204 S
Regent St. Port Angeles WA, 98362
My name is Matt Groves; I am 18 years old and a senior at PARS. As a student, I am
treasurer for the senior class, section leader for the percussionist in the band, and a pretty well
rounded student with the grades I have. For 7 years, my family and I have been heavily involved
in the Japanese exchange program with the Port Angeles/Mutsu City sister city exchange at the
Port Angeles High School.Not only have we hosted students with this program every year, every
two years the PIRA organization has there exchange program that we help with as well. We have
had a great time hosting the kids the past few years, and it's crazy how a short 5 day stay can
cause so much sadness when they leave. Every time we have the students, we do the best we can
to make their short stay in Port Angeles the best we can make it. It usually consists of doing
things only people in America can do (Like shoot guns!). Words can't describe the way I am
feeling knowing that in a month, I will be experiencing the same things that I have been giving to
our exchange students! It's just so exciting! In preparation of this trip, I have had the help of my
parents and fundraising with the PIRA group and the other high school student Alyssa Wetzler. I
have also had the generous help of donations for this trip. If you need to contact me, my
personal phone number is 360.461.3413, e-mail: and home address is
440 wildcat rd. Port Angeles, WA, 98363
We couldn't be more excited to take forth on this adventure. As two young adults going
on a trip of a lifetime is an amazing thing, yet it does take a lot of money and hard work. With
being enrolled in High School and extra activities, we both have jobs and have been fundraising
as much as we can. We appreciate the time spent reviewing our letter, and thank you for
considering us.
Sincerely,
Matt Groves and Alyssa Wetzler