With Christmas vacation in full swing and students preparing to return to school in less than a week, many are unaware that high school foreign exchange students will be arriving as well.

According to Pacific Intercultural Exchange (PIE) executive director John Doty, there are still a few more host families needed for exchange students in Oswego County.

Practically anyone can be a host family to a foreign student, whether it be a single parent, a large family, a childless couple or a retired couple. All of the students are between 15 and 18 years old and speak English. The students also have their own spending money and are covered by accident and health insurance. The exchange student would attend the family’s local high school.

Students come from all around the world to live in Oswego County for a semester and sometimes up to a whole academic year. Some of the countries participating in the PIE program are Germany, Hungary, the former Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Australia, Korea, Japan and China. Also participating are students from Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen and Morocco.

Host families are eligible to claim a charitable contribution deduction of  $50 each month they host a student on the family’s itemized tax return. Exchange students are not simply assigned to a host family. PIE representatives meet with the prospective family at their home and match students with the family through common interests and lifestyles. Each of the prospective families are able to review student applications to find a student who is compatible with them.

PIE was founded in 1975 as a non-for-profit educational organization. The Department of State recognizes PIE as an organization that meets the standards of the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel. Doty asks that interested families contact PIE as soon as possible, so the family and the student can get to know each other before they actually meet.

Anyone interested in becoming a host family or any students interested in becoming an exchange student may call PIE toll-free at 1-866-546-1402.