Beginning plans for its second year, Horizons, an exchange
program that brings students from Brazil to Saint Louis University,
will bring a bit of Brazilian warmth to St. Louis this winter. The
International Center is inviting SLU families again this year to
host high school students from Dec. 20 to Jan. 31. They will be
participating in the program organized by the International Center
and Santo Ant�nio High School, a magnet school in Belo
Horizonte, Brazil.
“The goal of the program is to try and help the Brazilian
students understand American culture and the American education
system,” said Jennifer Ewald, the director of the International
Center. The Brazilian students take computer classes, as well as
English lessons, and toward the end of the program are placed in
classes where they have the opportunity to have exchanges with SLU
students about American and Brazilian culture.
Beyond introducing students to the campus, however, Ewald said
that the program also focuses on service and education, as the
students participate in a number of projects throughout the
program. Last year faculty and staff, like Jeannette and Shannon
Mahaffey, who plan on hosting students again this year, opened
their homes to the Brazilians.
“We are looking forward to another great experience (as a host
family), although my children don’t think there is any way possible
for us to love another student as much as we love our (Brazilian)
girls from last year. They are forever part of our family,”
Jeannette said.
Ewald emphaszied that this exchange offers SLU employees the
chance to meet people from around the world, without even having to
leave their home. They may welcome international students and
visiting scholars for a weekend, over short holidays or for a week
or more.
“The horizons program was a great success last year,” said Linda
Wallace Jones, an English as Second Language teacher.
“In addition to the academic component, the Brazilian students
experienced U.S. culture from the inside. At the same time, their
host families enjoyed wonderful, enriching and fun intercultural
experiences.”
For more information or to register as a host family, contact
the International Center by telephone at 977-2318, or send e-mails
to [email protected].
