This 4th Of July Decide To Share Your America With An Exchange Student

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Jul 03, 2014, 08:30 ET

PORT CHESTER, N.Y., July 3, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 4^th of July is a great time to think about sharing your America with an exchange student from another country. What better way to build bridges and expand a young person's worldview than by hosting an exchange student? PAX - Program of Academic Exchange invites families to consider hosting a student for the coming school year.

"Hosting a foreign exchange student not only is an opportunity to share what you love most about the U.S., it helps you see the U.S. through fresh eyes," says PAX President Bradley Smith.

PAX foreign exchange student from Germany enjoying the holiday. (PRNewsFoto/PAX)

PAX students, from 70 European, South American, Asian and African countries, are eager to experience American activities such as backyard barbecues, birthday celebrations and holidays, and to share their country and culture with their host families.

The students travel to the U.S. each August for the upcoming school year. "PAX exchange students are typically 15-18 years old, must have studied English for at least three years with most having more than seven years of English study, and are motivated to learn more about the U.S. by attending high school, and living with a host family," says Smith. "They are covered by comprehensive medical insurance and have their own spending money."

Volunteer host families provide PAX students with a warm and supportive home environment, a seat at the family dinner table, a bed, a quiet place to study, and encouragement to engage in everyday American life. All types of families—single parents, young couples, retirees, and parents with teenagers—are welcome to host.

For more information about PAX and hosting an international exchange student, call 800-555-6211 or visit www.pax.org.

About PAX

Founded in 1990, PAX is a non-profit educational organization and one of a select few U.S. Department of State-designated Exchange Visitor Programs chosen to participate in the prestigious U.S. government sponsored FLEX and YES programs. Each year, more than 1,100 teenagers visit the U.S. as PAX exchange students.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140702/124206

SOURCE PAX - Program of Academic Exchange