The exchange scholarship program with Bathurst's Sister City, Ohkuma, has been running since 2002 giving students from Bathurst the opportunity to spend four weeks in Japan.

Students are provided with a fantastic opportunity to travel overseas and be surrounded by and experience the Japanese lifestyle.

During the visit Madeline and Jarrod spent four exhilarating weeks in Japan over September and October where they were home hosted by local families and attended Japanese high school.

The two scholarship winners were able to explore the local culture as they were able to visit the remarkable heritage sites in Ohkuma and Tokyo, eat the local cuisine, absorb the language, attend the local school and experience what its like to be a student in Japan.

Madeline and Jarrod experienced many of the local traditions first-hand and were given the opportunity to meet with the Sister-City Officials and the Major of Ohkuma.

"The Trip was amazing we got to home-stay with families and do everything that they got to do, they were all so accommodating. We travelled to all the schools in Ohkuma and visited all the surrounding world heritage sites", Madeline said.

"Going to school was the most exciting part, I made so many friends and we are all still emailing each other. It was an amazing opportunity, meeting all the people, trying all the food and experiencing what it is like to live in a different country."

The scholarship program is a unique opportunity for students in Bathurst to experience the culture and lifestyle of the people in Ohkuma and build life-long friendships.