Greensburg —
"High school exchange students make terrific older brothers and sisters for families with younger children," said Decatur County resident Teresa Metz, who serves as a local representative of the Program of Academic Exchange (PAX), a non-profit cross-cultural educational program.
Metz arranges local homestays for teens from around the world and is now selecting host families for the 2012/2013 school year. "Younger children can benefit tremendously from seeing things from the perspective of an older brother or sister who is experiencing life in America for the very first time," explained Metz.
"Parents benefit, too" Metz added. "The teenage years can be challenging and hosting someone else's teenager can provide parents with valuable knowledge about what it is like to have a teen in the house."
Maxime, from Belgium, has looked after small children at a theme park during holidays; and Kim, from South Korea, who hopes to be teacher, loves to read and play with her younger brother. Maxime and Kim are just two examples of teens who love kids and would welcome a family with younger children. PAX students hail from more than 30 different countries, including Germany, France, Brazil, Norway, Thailand, China, Belgium, South Korea and Turkey. They hope to share their customs, holiday traditions, language and food with their American hosts.
PAX host families share their everyday life with their ten month visitor and often build a lasting connection to their student's family abroad. "Host parents and children frequently visit their student and his or her family after the student returns home," notes Metz. "The sharing and exchanging can go on for years."
PAX students hope to become members of their American host families, to attend high school daily and to learn about the US by experiencing life here in Indiana. They have medical insurance, personal spending money and sufficient English to manage in school. They need a place to sleep and study, to join meals normally taken at home and to find the support and advice that any teenager needs.
For information about the PAX program, call community coordinator Teresa Metz at 812-663-6755 or Christi Reynolds in the PAX national office at 800-555-6211.
Interested families are also invited to visit the PAX web site at www.PAX.org.
News
"Mommy, I want a big brother or sister!"
- News
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Week for Wishes ends optimistically
Down the road a bit from the multitude of Relay for Life fundraising activities taking place at the Decatur County Fairgrounds, the local chapter of the Make a Wish Foundation hosted a variety of fun events all their own.
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Relay touts big numbers
Hundreds of area residents gathered at the Decatur County Fairgrounds over the weekend, each doing his or her part to take a stand against cancer.
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"Kindy 500" a fun fest for all
There were no engines to start Thursday afternoon, and the racing "track" offered significantly less space and ground to cover compared to a certain race being staged this Sunday, but that did nothing to dampen the spirit among students as they participated in the 1st "Kindy 500" at Greensburg's Good Shepherd Academy.
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School's out!
The children of Greensburg Elementary School were more than happy to mug for the camera en route to boarding the school buses that would soon ferry them on to summer vacation Monday afternoon.
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FSA reminds producers to file Annual Report of Acreage
Julia A. Wickard, State Executive Director of USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Indiana today reminded producers to submit their annual report of acreage to their local FSA county office to meet FSA program eligibility requirements.
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Surviving Decatur County's storm season
In an interview last September, meteorologist and Greensburg native Brian Schoettmer with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Louisville, Ky., told the Daily News that early-through-mid-spring and late fall tend to be the busiest and most dangerous times of the year for tornadoes and other severe weather in the Ohio Valley region.
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Strawberry Festival date announced
The Decatur County United Fund's annual Strawberry Festival is set for Friday, June 1, on the south side of the courthouse square.
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GoGreensburg silent auction
An autographed hat and photo card, complete with authentication papers, will be up for bids at a silent auction Monday.
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Running Clinic ready to take off
Children planning to spend the early portion of their summer in a brisk jog may find the upcoming Decatur County Youth Running Clinic much to their liking.
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Man held after assaulting police
A Greensburg man is in the custody of the Decatur County Jail following a drug-induced assault on police Thursday night.
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