This is the true story of seven strangers, picked to live in a house to find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real.

Seven Calvin students have undertaken this challenge. And while it may not be ``The Real World,'' the students living in Koinonia -- one of Calvin's three Project Neighborhood houses -- are living in a world more real than the posh quarters of MTV's favorite bickering beauties.

At 1230 Lake Drive, Koinonia is situated in an ethnically and socio-economically diverse neighborhood. The large, 100-year-old house is home to five Calvin women and two men, as well as mentors Mark and Deone Quist and their three children.

The residents are committed to fostering a sense of community in the house by eating together three times each week, dividing house responsibilities and meeting together for Bible study and house administration.

According to its mission statement, ``Project Neighborhood is an opportunity for students to live in an intentional residential community within an urban neighborhood. Students commit to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ by learning to relate to others as image bearers of God, bridging social and economic barriers, and developing vision and capacity for service. This is a caring, accountable environment, shaped by prayer and Biblical principles. Students covenant to live their Christian faith together in their home and neighborhood in specific and tangible ways.''

The students who live in Koinonia, Harambe and Peniel houses admit that it isn't always easy. The challenges intrinsic to moving in with a group of virtual strangers are numerous, and more than one current resident cited this as a source of conflict. However, the sense of commitment to the community within the houses transcends these challenges.

Ruth Arrowsmith, sophomore resident of Koinonia, said, ``It is a good way to meet people that you never would have met otherwise.''

``You learn to make concessions and to be flexible,''said senior Laura Hofman, resident of Peniel house.

The three houses have common goals and similar routines for building community inside their homes, and each house works with local ministries and organizations in service to its neighbors.

Hofman, who lived in Harambe house for one semester and currently lives in Peniel, said that the major difference among the three houses is their neighborhoods.

Peniel house is the ``parish house'' of Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church. It is located between four different neighborhoods -- Baxter Neighborhood, South Hill, Heritage Hill and Cherry Hill. The students at Peniel are involved in several of the church's programs, including girls' club, Saturday food distribution and Calvinettes.

Harambe House, located at 656 Bates in a primarily African American neighborhood, works closely with First Christian Reformed Church in its tutoring program and girls' and boys' clubs.

The residents of Koinonia work with Urban Produce's after- school program, providing tutoring, Bible study, games and crafts to neighborhood children. They have also developed a relationship with the residents of a nearby group home for mentally disabled adults. Arrowsmith said that Koinonia residents are hoping to get involved in some other organizations this semester as well.

The greatest challenge for students in the Project Neighborhood houses is finding time for everything. ``It's a big time commitment,'' said Arrowsmith. The students are committed to approximately 10 hours of community work each week inside and outside of their homes.

John Witte, associate dean of Residence Life and chair of the executive committee that oversees Project Neighborhood, said, ``We're looking for students who could benefit from this and who have something to offer it ... like time, a heart for service, an interest in intentional Christian community. We're not looking for people who simply can't find any other place to live, because it requires more of a commitment than this.''

``I love to see the fruit of a year of living and working together ... the connections between people, between neighbors, within and without the house, based on several months of living and learning together,'' he added. ``There are highs and lows, but the end of the journey is the time when people realize what they just experienced.''

Applications for Project Neighborhood, due Feb. 28, are available at dorm desks, the Service Learning Center, Chaplain Cooper's office and the Residence Life office. Interviews, conducted by current residents and mentors, will be held March 2-5 with decisions made by March 7. For further information, visit the Project Neighborhood website at www.calvin.edu/admin/housing/projectneighborhood or contact the houses directly.