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Host Family Stories

Announcing the AYA Host Family of the Year!

June 21, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

AYA host family

Each year, AYA students and Local Coordinators (LCs) nominate host families across the country for the honor of Host Family of the Year. These families open their hearts and homes to show international high school students the very best of American culture and hospitality. … [Read more...]

Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, AYA, cultural exchange, high school exchange program, host families, host family of the year, international high school students, volunteers

AYA Students Honor Host Fathers and Show Appreciation

June 16, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

To Host Dads Everywhere, With Love | Academic Year in America

Father's Day is a special time to show our appreciation and celebrate all the fathers, host fathers and father figures out there that work so hard to bring joy to all those around them. In honor of dads everywhere, we’re thrilled to share … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories, Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, arizona, AYA, cultural exchange, Exchange Student, exchange year, father's day, FLEX, host family, kazakhstan, new york, north carolina, pakistan, switzerland, YES

Exchange Student Spotlight: Andi from Indonesia

June 1, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

Exchange student Andi and her host sister

Today, we are delighted to present an exchange student spotlight on Andi from Indonesia. Andi's host mom, Jocia, wrote in to share her pride and appreciation for her host daughter's accomplishments as a high school exchange student in the state of New York. Andi is a great … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories, Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, cultural exchange, High school exchange, Indonesia, international education, muslim, new york, student spotlight

The Gold Standard of International High School Exchange

May 16, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

A gold compass on a map of the world

Life is a series of twists and turns on a great adventure that we can plan for, but you know what they say about best laid plans... In short, life is unpredictable. This trickles down to everything we do, and what you realize after a while is that planning is important, but … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories, Host Family Stories, Local Coordinator Stories, News Academic Year in America, AYA, exchange students, High school exchange, international education, international exchange program, The Gold Standard

AYA Students Celebrate Host Moms, Share Memories and Give Thanks

May 12, 2017 AYA 1 Comment

AYA Exchange student and host mother

Mother's Day is a special day to show our gratitude and celebrate all the mothers, host moms and mother figures out there that do so much to bring happiness to everyone else. In honor of mother's everywhere, we're delighted to share the following submissions from AYA students … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories, Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, AYA, cultural exchange, Exchange Student, exchange students, family, holiday, host family, host for america, host mom, mother's day, why hosting matters

A Special Holiday Gift for a Wonderful Host Family

December 21, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

A Gift for a Wonderful Host Family | Academic Year in America (AYA)

Recently, sixteen-year-old Sophie, an AYA student from Germany, reached out to her Local Coordinator for a way to publicly thank her host family, the Frascht family in South Carolina. She wrote this letter of appreciation, suggesting it would be a perfect Christmas present … [Read more...]

Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, AYA, christmas, Exchange Student, exchange year, holidays, host family

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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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Recent Posts

  • Student of the Month: Estefania from Germany Hosted in Florida
  • Student Spotlight: Niklas from Austria Hosted in Georgia
  • Student Spotlight: Maya from Germany Hosted in Tennessee
  • Student Spotlight: Ilina from North Macedonia Hosted in Texas
  • High Schools That Make a Difference: Announcing the 2025 – 2026 Tony Cook Memorial Grant Recipients 

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