The women of the United Methodist Church in Los Ba&#241;os hosted two special guests Tuesday for lunch. Two exchange students attending Los Ba&#241;os High School for the 2009-2010 school year made their way to the church to share about their hometown cultures and their experiences thus far in the United States.</p><p>It's an event the ladies of the church have been hosting for more than 40 years, members said.</p><p>Pedro Bertolani, 17, of Brazil and Anissa Ghanem, 18, of Belgium, spent the early afternoon with the group. Both students have committed to a nine month stay in the U.S. as part of the Cultural Homestay International, CHI, program, which began 30 years ago to promote world peace.</p><p>CHI Academic Coordinator for Los Ba&#241;os Barbara Cobarruvias said the program has brought foreign exchange students to Merced County from all over the world for one month, five month or nine month programs.</p><p>During their time here students live with an American family and experience the culture, as well as improve their English skills--pronunciation is the biggest thing during junior high and high school age years, Cobarruvias said.</p><p>During the lunch, both Bertolani and Ghanem spoke of their lives in their home country.</p><p>Bertolani said that he lives with his twin brother and parents in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He said he enjoys going to the movies, hanging out with friends, going to the mall, and all "the teenager stuff."</p><p>One difference he shared between Los Ba&#241;os High School and his school is that he has three classes a day for two hours each and attends from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. He also doesn't have opportunities to take elective courses or participate in sports during school time in Brazil, he said. Teachers also rotate between classrooms, as opposed to the students, he said of typical fashion in America.</p><p>"I like America better," Bertolani said of the school system. "It's more cool. It's some preparing for college in Brazil." College classes in Brazil don't follow the same pattern high school classes do.</p><p>Bertolani said he would like to attend college and study to become a doctor because of how much he enjoys his anatomy class in Los Ba&#241;os. He said his favorite thing about being in America has been the city of Los Ba&#241;os. He's used to something much larger and the calmness of the Central Valley makes the experience worthwhile for him, he said.</p><p>"It's so good I'm here," he said.</p><p>He's also teaching English to his friends in Brazil, he said. He's even picked up on the some of the "slang."</p><p>"I write to my friends in English and they ask me 'What means XOXO?' My Mom uses it now, too," he said.</p><p>Bertolani said he's grateful for his host family, complete with a younger host brother and sister, and he said he often tells his host mother 'When you need me, I come back.'</p><p>"We're good friends," he said.</p><p>Ghanem said she's most appreciative of how generous her family has been during her stay. Her host family includes host parents and three siblings that she said she enjoys spending time with.</p><p>Ghanem speaks six different languages because of the incredibly diverse culture in Belgium, something she said makes the country special to her. She also told church members of how different her school system is compared to Los Ba&#241;os'.</p><p>"It's very academic. We don't have electives. We have every class every year--math, biology, PE--and if we want to take electives it's more math, or more science," Ghanem said. "We also don't have sports."</p><p>Ghanem said she wants to attend college in Belgium and later volunteer her time in Africa or "wherever she's needed." She said she's not sure if she'll come back to the United States.</p><p>Bertolani, on the other hand, is positive he'll end up living here.</p><p>"You will see me more. I will come visit and I will live here someday," he said.</p><p>Having Tiger pride is something Ghanem said she loves about her Los Ba&#241;os peers on campus, something she misses out on in Belgium.</p><p>"I miss the football games. I was so excited to go to them. I loved them," Ghanem said.</p><p>Ghanem said that one reason she decided to come to America, after her brother stayed in Merced for some time, was because she wanted to experience life here for herself. She didn't want to assume everything she saw on TV was the actual culture.</p><p>"The ag community surprised me," she said. "I didn't realize how important it was."</p><p>Authentic Mexican food is also one of her favorite amenities of Los Ba&#241;os, she said.</p><p>Charlene Martin of the church group said members want to continue bringing foreign exchange students to speak because she doesn't think they get much exposure any where else.</p><p>"And they need to be exposed," Martin said. "We always look forward to them speaking. We're interested in what's going on in the world and we encourage anything that promotes peace in the world."</p><p>Glenna Hauger of the church agreed and said the event helps "spread the word of democracy and that everyone needs to get along.</p><p>"I wish there were more groups that hosted these kids," Hauger said.</p><p>Martin said while students are learning from American cultures, Americans are also given the opportunity to learn from them and they can take back positive "reports" to their country to help establish a more "friendly" common ground.</p><p>Both Bertolani and Ghanem are looking forward to the remaining time they have here, Merced County Spring Fair included.</p><p>"I would like to speak more about my experiences, too," Ghanem said.</p><p>Cobarruvias said CHI is looking for host families to help exchange students experience Los Ba&#241;os for the 2010-2011 school year. There are also opportunities to host a student during a five month stay or a one month stay over the summer. Thirty-five to 40 students from Japan usually attend during the summer session, Cobarruvias said.</p><p>"We hope to keep this program alive," she said. "There are some things only the Central Valley has to offer these students and it's always wonderful for families to open their hearts and their homes to them."</p><p>More information on the program can be found at its Web site, www.chinet.org, or by contacting Cobarruvias at 826-9547.