Carl Mojta has been in love with the French language since he was 14 years old. That love lead him to Strasbourg as a part of the University's study abroad program last year, and it could lead him to three French-speaking African countries this summer.

Mojta (senior-French) is one of eight applicants to the new "Crossroads: Africa" exchange program.

The African Studies/American Studies Youth Exchange Project, sponsored by the University Office of International Programs in conjunction with the United States Information Agency, will send two University students to the African nations of Burkina Faso, Senegal and Burundi, said Marleni Ramirez, coordinator of Interdisciplinary International Opportunities.

If selected, Mojta said he will use the opportunity to learn about the cultural linkage between French-speaking nations and France, as well as learn the culture and heritage of the African people.

"What a way to go out," said Mojta, who will graduate in May.

Tonight, six African students will begin a week-long visit to Penn State, giving Mojta and other University students a chance to directly exchange ideas with them.

During the first part of the exchange, the six African students of English and American Studies will visit Penn State, Michigan State University and the University of Iowa, Ramirez said. They will be in the United States for one month.

Throughout the second part of the program six American students -- including two students from Penn State -- will travel to the University of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, the University of Dakar in Senegal and the University of Bujumbura in Burundi from mid-May to mid-June, she said.

Daniel Walden, director of American Studies, said the African students will be acquainted with a range of studies during their stay at Penn State, including American popular culture, the history of Pennsylvanian religions, urbanization in the United States and early Pennsylvanian arts.

Walden, the first University professor to teach a black studies course in 1967, said the goal of this phase of the program is "to orient and familiarize this small group of African students from three countries to American ways -- to American culture."

In addition to attending lectures, Ramirez said the African students will have the opportunity to interact with American students during informal discussions and social events.

Ramirez said the African students will also visit sites such as an Amish farm and the Boal Mansion. She said she hopes to introduce the visitors to the history, culture and the countryside so they will be able to compare and contrast what they see here with what they will see in Iowa and Michigan.

American students selected to go to Africa will participate in an African Studies program, Ramirez said.

Applications for University students who want to travel to Africa have already been taken. Ramirez said the exchange students will be selected after the students go through interviews with the program's committee.

Mojta said the sole problem with the program is the length of time the decision process has taken. The committee has had the applications since Feb. 12.

Many of the applicants want a decision so they can arrange their summer employment, he said.

"Other than that, the program is great," Mojta said.

Although they do not know who among them will be picked to travel to Africa this summer, the applicants are all helping the committee with the program, Ramirez said.

"This will be a very exciting program for those students who are selected to go," she added.