UNIVERSITY SEEKS HOST FAMILIES FOR 21 JAPANESE STUDENTS

Southeast Missouri State University is seeking families to host Japanese students who will be participating in the school's Intensive English program in August.

Twenty-one Japanese students are scheduled to arrive in Cape Girardeau on Aug. 3. The university plans to house each student with a host family during the program which runs through Aug. 31. School officials said host families have been found for all but six of the students.

The Zeilinger family from Cape Girardeau has hosted students from Aichi University for three years.

"It's like getting another daughter or son," said Rhonda Zeilinger. "You include them in everything you do."

The Zeilingers currently have Ikumi Tsunomiya, an 18-year-old Japanese student, living with them.

Bobby and Cori McGee of Cape Girardeau hosted their first student earlier this year. Kasumi Tamura, 22, lived with the McGees before deciding to stay at Southeast to pursue her studies. She now lives on campus.

Hosting a student changed how the McGees ran their household.

"You want to cater to them so you take better care of your family by setting meals, activities and family time," Cori McGee said.

All of the Japanese students arrive with spending money and full medical insurance. Host families receive a stipend for the time the students live here.

For more information on becoming a host family, contact Jill Venezian or Dwayne Crites at Southeast's International Community Programs office at 986-6872.