Host an Exchange Student
For 8 Weeks or Longer:
Bring the World In!
by Mary Davis
 (May 8, 2003) Next year, Mamaroneck High School will be
sponsoring two remarkable students from the former Soviet
Republic,
and
local families will have the opportunity to serve as hosts
for these teens. The exchange is part of a U.S. State Department
cultural affairs initiative to provide students from the
former Soviet Republics with first hand knowledge of American
education, community, and public and private sectors. The
students have been chosen from 56,000 applicants for their
leadership skills, academic ability and excellent English.
These students want a "reality experience,” not
the American life seen in the movies or reported in their
newspapers.
These teens need host families!
Elena, from Moldova, loves debate club
and is deeply concerned about the environment. Vasilina,
from Russia, is a top ranked student with a passion
for fashion design and animals. Host families can
also receive students from the Ukraine and the Eurasian
countries.
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The program is seeking local families to host during the
2003/04 school year – for the entire year, or a minimum
of eight weeks.
The Larchmont and Mamaroneck communities have much to offer
an exchange student and the program offers much for the
hosts. It’s a great way for a family to practice
global citizenship. Every day activities take on new meaning
when shared with a student eager to discover the American
way of life.
Host families come in many sizes and shapes, with and without
children. A successful host family is one that is warm, welcoming,
willing to share, and interested in other countries and cultures.
Deadline is June 5
To learn more about the program, contact Mary
Davis at 834-2624 or at palmtreedavis@aol.com.
Call NOW because the deadline
for
determining host families is June 5!
Mary Davis is a Larchmont resident
whose children attend the Mamaroneck schools. She has been
working with
the PAX organization and with Assistant Principal Gail Kleiner
to bring
exchange students to the high school.
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