All across the country, AYA exchange students get a lot of support from Local Coordinators. These folks work hard to help students and host families make meaningful connections and enjoy their participation in international high school exchange.
In honor of Valentine’s Day, here are some wonderful messages several of our students shared to show their appreciation for everything that their Local Coordinators have done for them.
To: Cynthia J., LC in Missouri
I love my LC so much, because she helps me grow as a person, she encourages me and cares about me. She is supportive whenever I need advice and suggestions, she is like my life tutor here in America. I learnt a lot from her.
Love: Qiuyu Z., exchange student from China
To: Debbie O., LC in Colorado
I love my Local Coordinator because she is a wonderful person, and she takes a lot of care about me. So I really appreciate how much she does for me. I really enjoy hanging out with her family. Debbie deserves a Best Local Coordinator Award.
Love: Leon W., exchange student from
To: Kelly B., LC in Kansas
She’s super cool. She always organizes events and trips for us, and they’re always so much fun! I’m very lucky to have her as an LC.
Love: Moritz H., exchange student from Austria
To: Lindsay B., LC in New York
Why I love My LC: why we love people is complicated and very hard to explain, almost impossible. But I can tell what I feel that makes me love her. First, she is very cool and awesome, very supportive, listen to me, cheering me up. Even when I was a jerk one time, we talked, and I found that I was wrong. I feel that she is my friend more than Local Coordinator, because you find your friends on your back always. Your friends feel your problems and see your point. It’s so sad that I’m leaving after 4 months, but I’m sure that I’ll never forget my friend. I love you Lindsay.
Love: Hassan A., exchange student from Egypt
To: April D., LC in Maryland
April is an amazing local coordinator. Everybody would want to have her as an LC. Since the first minute I met her, she did everything she could to make my exchange year awesome, starting with picking me up at 2 a.m. at the airport, because my first flight got cancelled. She let me sleep in her house the first week, because my host family was out of town. The week ended with a welcome party for all her exchange students, at the pool, with a lot of food and a Welcome to America cake.
Furthermore, she makes so many events with her exchange students. She plans trips, makes pool parties, fun stuff like midnight bowling; when she does parties at her house she’s standing in the kitchen all day cooking food and cleaning and she’s doing all of that stuff even though her back hurts… sometimes she even drives me home so late after her events.
She is always asking me how it’s going and really sounds like she cares. My grandma died this winter and it’s really cool if you have, when you’re so far away, people that are super sweet and actually worried about you — just like April, asking if they can do anything, talking with you, hugging you.
And last but not least, although that might sound simple, she’s so friendly. She’s always excited to see her exchange students and even cares about the families of her exchange students. She makes everybody happy and always tries to do her best and is just such an awesome person and that’s why my local coordinator has my love!
Love: Sophie S., exchange student from Germany
To: Kelly B., LC in Kansas
Kelly is my best friend. I share everything with her; my highs, my lows, my grades. And she also makes sure I’m getting the best out of everything and helps me out if I’m struggling. There’s no reason not to love her, because not all angels have wings, some are simply called Local Coordinators, and Kelly is on the top of the list.
Love: Sweta S., exchange student from India
To: Ginger J., LC in North Carolina
I love my Local Coordinator, because Ginger is always there for my host family and me.
Love: Sophie K., exchange student from Germany
To: Hugh M., LC in Pennsylvania
In my opinion, he’s the best Local Coordinator, because he was such a big help when I had problems with my first host family. He picked me up and tried to find a solution for my problem. In the end, he decided that I could spend the rest of my stay with his family, and so, he became my host grandpa!
Love: Marie W., exchange student from Germany
To: Karen R., LC in Florida
Karen has my love, because she is there when I need her.
Love: Mia H., exchange student from Germany
To: Kori S., LC in Wisconsin
Kori is just an awesome Local Coordinator! She cares about me so much, and we’re in really close contact. When I changed my host family she was there for me the whole time; she found the perfect family for me, and I always felt and feel like I can talk to her about everything. She is so easy to talk to and when we meet, we always have so much fun together. She always helps me with all questions I have, and she tries to make my exchange year perfect — what she absolutely does! I can honestly say that, without her, my exchange year would definitely not be as great as it is! I’m going to miss her very much when I’m back in Germany, because she’s just one of the most important persons here for me!
Love: Emely W., exchange student from Germany
To: Dina B., LC in South Carolina
I love my Local Coordinator so much, because when I’m spending time with her, I’m feeling she’s so curious about my happiness, sadness or problems. She wants to know what am I doing, what am I like to do or not. When I’m scared to try new things, she’s pushing me and saying “go ahead, you should to try that, try everything at once, this is your year don’t say why I didn’t try. Do what you want. And always smile, because if you’re not smiling I’ll think something is wrong.” She is making me feel at home. I’m already feeling at home, but it’s making me more self-confident. She’s sometimes being like my mom and sometimes like sister. Love you Miss Dina!
Love: Cagla A., exchange student from Turkey
Learn more about opportunities to host an international high school student through AYA exchange.
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