Cultural Homestay International, a non-profit educational program, is seeking applications from families who want a chance to share the culture and way of life of a U.S. family with a teenager from another country for the 2010-2011 school year.

Volunteer families provide room, board, three meals a day, and family life while learning about another part of the world from the teen they're hosting. Host families are expected to provide a comfortable, nurturing, and safe "home away from home."

The high school students come from Belgium, Brazil, China, Colombia, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam.

They will have their own health insurance and spending money. The local coordinator guides and supports the family and the student during the school year. Students attend school for five (semester) to 10 months.

If you can't host for 10 months, you can be a welcome family. A welcome family hosts until a permanent host family for the academic year is found.

For information or to apply, contact academic coordinator Tracy Cameron (530) 274-0240, area administrator Cathy Johnson (916) 791-2425 or 1-877-791-2425 (toll free) or go to www.chinet.org and click on the Academic Year Program.