Aachen-Arlington Sister City Exchange Students Prepare to Leave for Germany

Fifteen students representing all five Arlington Public High Schools are participating in the Arlington-Aachen High School exchange and are set to depart this month. While this sister-city exchange has been operating for decades, this trip marks the first trip in three years since the global pandemic.

The sister-city partnership started in 1993 by the Arlington Sister Cities Association, which seeks to promote Arlington’s international profile through a variety of exchanges in education, commerce, culture and the arts. The exchange, scheduled June 17th to July 4th, includes a two-week homestay in Aachen plus three days in Berlin. This fall, the German students will come to Arlington and stay with their American host families for ten days followed by three days in New York City.

Students interested in the summer 2024 exchange should send an email to register their interest to: AachenArlingtonExchange@gmail.com. Recruitment will begin in the fall. Applicants must be high school students between 15 and 18 years old residing in Arlington, and demonstrate leadership, maturity, flexibility, and an interest in history and foreign cultures. Participants will be invited to host an Aachen student in the fall of 2024. Financial aid is available for qualified applicants.