The Columbia Association is accepting applications for the International and Multi-Cultural High School Student Exchange program until February 19, 2010. Participating Howard County students spend approximately two weeks of cultural and linguistic immersion during the summer in one of Columbia’s sister cities, Cergy-Pontoise, France or Tres Cantos, Spain, hosted by the family of a French or Spanish student. After returning to the United States, students will host their French/Spanish counterparts for another two weeks. There are organized group activities for the participants, both abroad and in the U.S. The registration fee is $650 for Columbia residents and $790 for non-Columbia residents, excluding airline fees. Airline fees may range from $1,100 to $1,500 per participant. Applicants must be high school students residing in Howard County and must have completed high school level two of French or Spanish by the end of the current academic year or have the equivalent language fluency.

For an application or more information, visit the CA website at ColumbiaAssociation.org, or call Laura Smit, Program Manager for International Exchange & Multicultural Programs at 410-715-3162 or email: international@columbiaassociation.com.

Read past articles and blogs about the International Exchange Programs:

http://www.camonthly.org/html/8.08/foreign_exchange.html

http://www.camonthly.org/html/7.08/SisterCities.html