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Author: Academic Year in America | Blog Archives

Meet a Host Family: Julie in Kansas

April 30, 2025 AYA Leave a Comment

AYA host mom Julie in Kansas

Welcoming an international exchange student into your home is a life-changing experience for both the student and the entire host family. Julie from small-town Rossville, Kansas, knows this firsthand. Over the past 12 years, her family has opened their hearts and home to seven … [Read more...]

Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, cultural exchange, host family, interview, kansas, rural

Can I Host an Exchange Student If I Live in a Big City? 

April 29, 2025 AYA Leave a Comment

exchange student from romania in times square, new york city

Hosting a high school exchange student is an experience like no other—it allows you and your family to experience the incredible benefits of cultural exchange while impacting a young person's life. You may think that hosting a foreign exchange student requires a big house in the … [Read more...]

FAQs Academic Year in America, big city, cultural exchange, Exchange Student, exchange students

Meet a Host Family: Allen in Kansas

April 29, 2025 AYA Leave a Comment

Host Family in Kansas Allen

For Allen and his family in rural Kansas, hosting a high school exchange student through Academic Year in America (AYA) wasn’t just a one-year experience — it sparked a lifelong connection! In 2014, he and his family hosted Vanessa from Germany, and what began as a cultural … [Read more...]

Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, cultural exchange, host family, interview, kansas, rural

Meet a Host Family: Chris & Shelby in Kansas

April 28, 2025 AYA Leave a Comment

Host parents in Kansas, Chris and Shelby

When Shelby and Chris in small-town Kansas decided to host an international exchange student through Academic Year in America (AYA), they weren’t sure exactly what to expect. But what they found was a rewarding experience that brought new traditions, deeper cultural … [Read more...]

Host Family Stories exchange students, exchange year, host family, interview, kansas, rural

Meet a Host Family: Christy M. in Kansas

April 27, 2025 AYA Leave a Comment

academic year in america aya host mom in kansas

Welcoming an international exchange student into your home is a life-changing experience for both the student and the entire host family. Christy from small-town Kansas knows this firsthand. Over the past five years, her family has opened their hearts and home to exchange … [Read more...]

Host Family Stories host family, interview, kansas, rural

Student Spotlight: Emilia from Poland Hosted in Tennessee

April 25, 2025 AYA Leave a Comment

AYA exchange student Emilia from Poland in Washington

We are so excited to shine a spotlight on one of our outstanding exchange students who has truly embodied the spirit of learning, growth, and cultural exchange. Meet exchange student Emilia, who is originally from Poland. Emilia has truly embraced new experiences, fostered … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories Academic Year in America, cultural exchange, exchange students, FLEX Program, host family, poland, student spotlight, tennessee

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About AYA

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Academic Year in America (AYA) is sponsored by the AIFS Foundation, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1967. Its mission is to promote worldwide understanding through cultural exchange.

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  • Beyond the School Year: How Host Family & Exchange Student Relationships Last
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  • Cultural Exchange Happens Around the Dinner Table
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