The College of Staten Island (CSI) High School for International Studies (CSI) is participating in an historic exchange visit from Bahrain – the first time that high school students have come on a US government-sponsored exchange visit.

CSI is hosting four students and one teacher from Bahrain, from January 29 through February 19, 2006. The Bahraini students are living with the families of some of the CSI High School students as they experience American life first-hand.

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 8 – 8:50 a.m.
Bahraini Delegation Presentation

WHERE: College of Staten Island
Center for the Arts – Recital Hall
2800 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10314

WHEN: Thursday, February 9 at 2:30 p.m.
Bahraini students visit with CSI students

WHERE: College of Staten Island
Center for International Service, 2A-206
2800 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10314

According to MSN’s Encarta Encyclopedia, the Kingdom of Bahrain is an independent Arab nation in western Asia, part of the region known as the Middle East. Bahrain is made up of 36 islands on the western side of the Persian Gulf, between Saudi Arabia to the east and Qatar to the west. The main island, also known as Bahrain, is home to the country’s capital and largest city, Manama.

The exchange is made possible via the Building Respect through Internet Dialogue and Global Education (BRIDGE) program, which is part of the Global Connections initiative.

It is sponsored by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs (ECA) and administered by iEARN-USA (International Education and Resource Network).

BRIDGE builds cross-cultural communication and collaborative online project work in an educational context between US high school students and their peers in countries with significant Muslim populations.