World, meet Waterford. Waterford, meet World. Using Skype video-conferencing, the world language department at Waterford High last week started a series of video foreign exchanges with four schools around the globe to talk about politics and everyday life.

Using Skype video-conferencing, the world language department at Waterford High last week started a series of video foreign exchanges with four schools around the globe to talk about politics and everyday life. According to teacher Mark Foster, the school has plans to both host foreign students and send Waterford High students abroad over the next two years.

According to teacher Mark Foster, the school has plans to both host foreign students and send Waterford High students abroad over the next two years. Foster said the town has established relationships with schools in Germany, France, Lebanon, and Italy, plus the school is in discussions to set up an exchange with a school in Israel.

Foster said the town has established relationships with schools in Germany, France, Lebanon, and Italy, plus the school is in discussions to set up an exchange with a school in Israel. "There's a lot of enthusiasm about this," Foster said. "[Superintendent of Schools] Randall Collins and [Principal] Donald Macrino have been very supportive.

"There's a lot of enthusiasm about this," Foster said. "[Superintendent of Schools] Randall Collins and [Principal] Donald Macrino have been very supportive. Foster said the school is pursuing a grant to help update equipment such as better Web cams, to make communicating easier.

Foster said the school is pursuing a grant to help update equipment such as better Web cams, to make communicating easier. The first video exchange, which took place last Wednesday with Liceo Scientifico Salutati in Montecatini Terme, a vacation destination in the heart of Tuscany, was marred by some technical difficulties.

The first video exchange, which took place last Wednesday with Liceo Scientifico Salutati in Montecatini Terme, a vacation destination in the heart of Tuscany, was marred by some technical difficulties. Both classrooms planned to talk about the hot-button health care issue, but due to a poor connection the Americans and the Italians had problems hearing and seeing each other.

Both classrooms planned to talk about the hot-button health care issue, but due to a poor connection the Americans and the Italians had problems hearing and seeing each other. So, the first video conference consisted mostly of small talk, as students asked if each had been to Italy or the United States.

So, the first video conference consisted mostly of small talk, as students asked if each had been to Italy or the United States. "I hope you come here," Francesco, 16, in Montecatini, said. "We hope to see you as soon as possible."

"I hope you come here," Francesco, 16, in Montecatini, said. "We hope to see you as soon as possible." Maria, 16, waved hello and said she liked to play the piano.

Maria, 16, waved hello and said she liked to play the piano. They also talked about the weather, where it was a chilly 7 degrees centigrade in Montecatini.

They also talked about the weather, where it was a chilly 7 degrees centigrade in Montecatini. The Waterford class did, however, get in a few questions about health care in Italy.

The Waterford class did, however, get in a few questions about health care in Italy. One of the Italian students explained that health care there is paid for by tax dollars, but you also have the option to buy private health insurance.

One of the Italian students explained that health care there is paid for by tax dollars, but you also have the option to buy private health insurance. Another student explained that if you have government-run care sometimes it can take a while to see a doctor.

Another student explained that if you have government-run care sometimes it can take a while to see a doctor. Foster, who speaks Italian and French, coached the Waterford students on speaking to the Italians, suggesting they drop American affectations, such as "you guys," and talk slowly.

Foster, who speaks Italian and French, coached the Waterford students on speaking to the Italians, suggesting they drop American affectations, such as "you guys," and talk slowly. Waterford students were impressed with the video exchange.

Waterford students were impressed with the video exchange. "I've never see anything like it," Caitlin Kennedy, a senior, said.

"I've never see anything like it," Caitlin Kennedy, a senior, said. In the coming weeks, Foster said the school will stage weekly video-conferences with students at Geschwister-Scholl-Gymnasium Lebach, Germany, the Lycée Notre Dame des Aydes in Blois, France, and Jezzine High School in Jezzine, Lebanon.

In the coming weeks, Foster said the school will stage weekly video-conferences with students at Geschwister-Scholl-Gymnasium Lebach, Germany, the Lycée Notre Dame des Aydes in Blois, France, and Jezzine High School in Jezzine, Lebanon.