They Visit Us – Beginning in 2003

2003 Visit One – Teachers and Students. Friends of Merzifon applied for and won a competitive grant of $7,500 sponsored by Sister Cities International and the Department of Education that was limited to only five American cities. With these funds, FoM was able to invite two English teachers and four high school students from Merzifon to come to Pleasant Hill during the month of April. The group attended classes at College Park High School for the first week and toured Central California during the second. For them and for FoM, the experience was an unforgettable one.

2003 Visit Two – An Official Delegation Mayor Cahit Toprak brought to Pleasant Hill a delegation of eight residents of Merzifon for a ten-day stay between Christmas and just after New Year's. The visitors included a former parliamentarian, the chair of the local disabled and handicapped society, and the chair of the English department at Anadolu High School. Each delegate was accompanied by his or her spouse. For the majority of the travelers, this was a first visit to the US. They and their hosts thoroughly enjoyed the time spent visiting locales around the Bay Area and Central California.

"To support and encourage mutual visits by the citizens of both cities"