By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
A search is under way for Hopewell Valley families that would like to host a foreign exchange student during the upcoming academic year.
Alicia Waltman, school district spokeswoman, explained that Cultural Homestay International (CHI) of San Anselmo, Calif., is looking for three families to host exchange students while they attend Central High School.
CHI representative Kelly Gillespiie said the exchange students are expected to be between the ages of 15 and 18.
Most exchange students stay for one full academic year, though a few do stay for half the academic year.
”Currently, there are two exchange students attending CHS, one from Slovakia and one from Germany,” Ms. Waltman said.
”I was an exchange student to Germany, and I have been friends with my host family for 20 years,” added Ms. Gillespie. “That’s what you get from this — lifelong friendships.”
Host families provide room and board, while students bring their own spending money and health insurance.
Interested families should contact Ms. Gillespie at 904-829-9081 or [email protected] and look at the CHI website: www.chinet.org for more information.
