It’s a new year and it’s a fresh new start for our January semester students who have just arrived in the U.S. and are enjoying orientation in New York City this week! During orientation our Local Coordinators volunteer alongside with our AYA national staff to prepare and equip our students with the resources they need in order to have a successful spring semester. They also enjoy touring New York City visiting top attractions such as Central Park, the United Nations and Top of the Rock! These semester students will enjoy five fully pact months in the U.S. living with a host family, and attending a semester at a U.S. high school.
Over the next few days our exchange students will be flown off to their various new homes across the U.S. where we have eager host families awaiting their arrival. Our spring semester host families only host a total of five months until the end of June at which time our students will return to their home countries. Hosting for a semester is a great opportunity for families who are first time host families to get a taste of what hosting an exchange student feels like. Often semester host families grow into repeat host families who want to host the following year for the full 10 months. Five months can go by fast and you often wish you had more time to spend with your new son or daughter. You’ve also had time to get to know the program and are better prepared to host the next year.
At AYA we offer three different hosting opportunities for our families to meet the needs of our exchange students and compliment the lifestyle of our families. Our first option is hosting the full 10 months of the academic year from September to June. This is a great fit for a family who has a flexible schedule, time and is looking for a full immersion experience. Our second option is hosting for the fall or spring semester for a period of five months. Hosting for a semester also gives you a full immersion experience without a long term commitment. This is a great choice if your family is hosting for the first time or if you have time conflicts during certain months of the year. Our third option is to welcome an exchange student from 4-6 weeks before they go to their full year or semester family’s home. This is a great way to experience another culture in just a few weeks and a wonderful opportunity to support international education and cultural exchange. At AYA we believe hosting regardless of the amount of time is one of the most rewarding experiences you can give your family.
If you are interested in learning more about the different hosting opportunities with AYA, please check them out on our website, here! We would love to meet you and discuss what option is the best fit for you and your family!
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