Exchange students seek host families on L.I.

As part of the Council of Education Travel, students from European and Asian countries will be coming to Long Island to stay with host families and spend the 2012-2013 school year as foreign exchange students.

In program that can be rewarding to both the student and the hosts, teens from a number of countries, including Germany, Italy, Korea and Norway, will come across the world to experience American culture and likewise teach their hosts about life in their own home country.

Founded in 1995, the CET has worked to help bright young adults all over the world — more than 8,000 annually — become familiar with American culture. Host families that would like to participate must go through an interview process with CET coordinators who will oversee a child’s experience in the program.

Students, who will be in the states for 10 months of school, will live with host families and experience everyday life for an American teen, living as member of the family. All students are well versed in English, although there will be a language barrier along with the culture shock of being introduced to a new environment. Families will be hosting intelligent foreign students who excel in school and are capable of being a contributing partner in a mutually beneficial arrangement.

For students like 16-year-old Helena from Norway, who lives above the Arctic Circle, the weather change will be but one of the many adventures she hopes to have during her stay on Long Island.

Those interested in becoming host families for a young world traveler can call Christina Lanzillotto at (631) 790-6907 or email cetusalongisland@yahoo.com. For more information and to view the CET handbook, visit www.cetusa.org.

— Sean Harmon