Some exchange students at Monte's home. Two Boca Raton families, the Tices and Lubitkens, took in foreign exchange students this year as part of the Program for Academic Exchange, and things went so well they plan on doing it again next year. “The director of my chess club posted a notice to members about the program, and that is where I first leaned of PAX. Fellipe arrived last August and just left three weeks ago, and he needed a bit of guidance at first but it turned out to be a great experience,” said Marni Tice.
After no time at all, Fellipe was taking out the trash, clearing the dishes and became part of the family.
“They come with their own funds, so there it not a great expense, just a few extra portions at meal time,” she said.
The Tices are expecting a female student from Germany in August, and Marni said it will be nice to have a female this time around.
“I have four kids and it was nice to have a big-brother type this go around, and now they will benefit from a big sister,” she said.
The Lubitkens took in Jao from Thailand, and Amy Lubitken said it provided her children with a cultural education not available in textbooks.
“There are so many cultural differences that my children learned, like the fact they do not use ovens to cook, and they were things they probably never would have come across. She really became much more like a family member after no time at all,” said Lubitken.
PAX community coordinator Jeanne Monte said the program places about 1,000 exchange students a year, but that the program cuts both ways.
“We also send close to 500 American students overseas each year," she said. For more information, call 561-883-2783 or visit www.pax.org.