Fredericksburg has a sister city partnership with five international cities, listed below along with the year the partnership was established: Fréjus, France (1980) Prince’s Town, Ghana (2006) Schwetzingen, Germany (2010) Este, Italy (2015) Kathmandu, Nepal (2015) This series of lectures focuses on the cultural contributions of these countries to the fabric of our nation, and also the influences of our nation upon those countries. It is a conversation of ideas and ideals, and historical and cultural exchanges—all of which have enriched each nation. The sister city organizations have come together to present these lectures as a part of the VA250 program offerings, marking the semiquincentennial of the United States. The goals of each sister city are to strengthen relationships between Fredericksburg and these cities, and through these relationships, to advance knowledge and understanding. These goals are realized through programs, exchanges, and projects, thus weaving more international threads into our particular cultural quilt.