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Show Teenagers From Abroad Find Real America Some 2300 intelligent and attractive teenagers from 50 nations this year are spending approximately ten months in U.S. homes, attending U.S. schools, and forming lifelong impressions im-pressions of the "real" America in one of the most remarkable educational experiments ever launched. i Similarly, about 1300 American teenagers are living in homes abroad learning new languages, gaining a new comprehension com-prehension of international problems. J. D. Ratcliff describes the success of the program in a Reader's Digest article: "I talked with dozens of exchange students and attended many of their final sessions. There was almost unanimous agreement agree-ment on many things. Nearly all had gained a deep respect for U.S. democracy. All had made friendships they were sure would last a lifetime. ( At first government sponsored, the exchange program is now in the hands of five private agencies: the American Field Service, American Friends Service Committee, International Christian Youth Exchange, National Catholic Welfare Conference Confer-ence and the Michigan Council of Churches. It costs about $1000 to give an exchange student a year in the United States transportation being the major expense. Bed, board and pocket money are provided by the volunteer family. In Europe there are above 10 applicants for every place available; avail-able; in Japan, 50. Screening committees make a careful check of students and host homes. Students must be intelligent, adaptable, outgoing out-going potential future leaders. They are matched, insofar as possible, with young people whose families are of similar economic eco-nomic status, cultural and religious affiliation. |