Scottsdale is One of the most beautiful and sunniest places in USA. It is situated in the eastern part of Arizona. The sister city program was actually initiated by US President Eisenhower in 1956.
Scottsdale started their sister city organization later and its first sister city was Alamos, Mexico in 1969.
The program is based on sending and receiving students from different countries and  Scottsdale is presently a sister city with 6 other cities which are: Alamos, Sonora, Mexico; Cairns, Queensland, Australia; Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Haikou, Hainan, China and Marrakesh, Morocco.
I have traveled recently with 5 other members from Marrakesh  to the US in order to conduct the first exchange between Marrakesh and Scottsdale since they became sister cities.

Moroccan Access students performing in Scottsdale – Arizona. USA

This exchange has been a powerful experience for us as students because we learned so many things about the United States. We lived it for real, felt it, and enjoyed it. It was a chance to see a totally diverse and new world, to develop our thinking abilities and to better our English skills. We also learned that no matter who we are or where we come from, we can always change our situation for the best, that even if we stay in Marrakesh for a lifetime we can still be great citizens by thinking good, acting good, trying over and over until we get what we want, to just open our minds, and finally to dream bigger.
All that thanks to Access, Relo, Mate, SSSA, our dear teacher Houssnia Tiana, Mr.Max, Mr.Joe and all the other SSCA members for being there and for allowing us to live a tremendous week .
By: Dounia Chlyeh / Abou Elabass Sebti high school