Foreign exchange students arrive from China

Several flights and more than 40 hours later, two foreign exchange students arrived on the Gulf Coast this week all the way from China.

Kevin and Terry are a part of the ‘Academic Foreign Exchange Culture Exchange Program,” helping students ages 15 to 18 from around the world experience and live with a different culture. Their host families provide a home, bed, regular meals, and help them adapt to life in America.

The high school students are getting ready to start their semesters at Biloxi High School and Kevin says the main difference he’s seen in America so far are the school hours and the pressure from parents. “In China, the school time is 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. It’s such a long time. Sometimes the students in China, they have to do after class tutoring.”

Two more exchange students are flying in from Korea later tonight and they’re still looking for their permanent host families. If you’re interested in giving a temporary home to one of these students, contact Jourdan Hartshorn at 228-236-7233.