On the Fourth of July, when most Americans were off work celebrating the nation's independence, Peg Schmidt, of Regent Square, was working to bring people into the country.

Thanks to her overtime efforts at the block party that day, three foreign exchange students at Woodland Hills High School now live within blocks of one another in Regent Square.

"I live in Regent Square so, of course, I know more people there. I love having kids in the neighborhood, so it was partly by design because the more people I can influence ... what can I say," said Ms. Schmidt, local coordinator and team leader for the Council on International Educational Exchange.

And even though some hosts at first were unsure about participating in the program, they now say they're glad they made the decision.

"I myself was an exchange student in Germany for a month after high school," Eric Baysinger wrote in an e-mail. He and Kurt Summersgill are the host family for Tobian Menges.

"I know what culture shock can be like and how difficult it can be to adjust to another family's routine," Mr. Baysinger continued. "But Kurt and I have been surprised by just how busy our lives have become since Tobian arrived. It seems there's something to do or somewhere to go every evening."

Tobian, 17, of Heidelberg, Germany, is in the same neighborhood with fellow exchange students Katerina Koci, 17, of Liberac, Czech Republic, and Jong Chan Lee, 16, of Daegu, South Korea.

They said they would likely remain busy, learning as much as they can about the United States and Pittsburgh until they return home at the end of the semester.

Jong Chan said he has learned how much fun Kennywood is. Katerina said the ice cream in America is better than in Prague and Tobian has pledged allegiance to the Steelers nation.

They also said they have learned how to function in a school setting that's completely different from their own.

"The funniest difference," said Tobian, a senior, "is that in Germany, the teacher has his own room and students have their own room. Teachers must come to us."

Tobian also said he likes the fact that he can take elective classes.

"In [my] home school, we don't choose subjects we want to do. We must do everything," he said.

Katerina, a junior, said schools in Prague also have teachers, not students, change classrooms for subjects, and the balance of work was slightly different in this country.

"We don't have more homework [in the Czech Republic], but we have more tests, so we spend more time studying," she said.

Jong Chan said school here is "very easy" compared with South Korea, where his day starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 9 p.m. He said he likes the system in the United States better, for obvious reasons.

"In Korea, kids are crazy," he joked. "They sleep in class."

Although sleeping in class isn't foreign to American students, classmates who are still perfecting their English tend to stand out. But these exchange students said they have made friends and acquaintances at Woodland Hills, and Jong Chan even has a date to the school's homecoming dance Oct. 10.

But even with the new friends, the students recognize the importance of having each other nearby to share experiences.

Tobian and Jong Chan play on the Woodland Hills varsity soccer team. (Asked who was better, each pointed to the other.)

And all three exchange students have gone to football games and other school activities together.

Although Katerina wasn't sure they could maintain their friendships once they return to their home countries, Ms. Schmidt begs to differ.

"At the beginning of the year everything's so exciting and new, who cares if there's another exchange student nearby," she said. "But by the end of the year, after things calm down and become normal, they will have established a group identity."