Host Family Stories

Reflections on a Five-Year Adventure with AYA

August 23, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

Sharing each other's culture and living as family can lead to some pretty great experiences and cherished memories. It is not surprising, but always wonderful to hear when host families and AYA exchange students form lasting bonds. The following contribution is from host mom … [Read more...]

Providing a Warm Welcome to America

August 10, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

AYA students stay for a semester or full academic year of high school, living with host families and getting to experience what real life is like in America. As high school students full of curiosity about the world around them, they provide valuable cultural enrichment to our … [Read more...]

Host Families Empower Students

August 8, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

Thanks to AYA host families, thousands of international students have lived and studied in U.S. high schools across the country. Host families empower students with opportunities to interact with each other as well as American classmates and communities. This supports … [Read more...]

Planning for Your Exchange Student’s Arrival

August 4, 2016 AYA 1 Comment

Preparing for the arrival of your AYA student can really be so much fun. The little details and extra effort you put into preparation can easily mean the world to a young person venturing to a foreign country – perhaps leaving the comfort and familiarity of home for the first … [Read more...]

7 Ways Hosting an Exchange Student Improves Your Teaching Game

August 2, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

Sure, hosting an international exchange student is a commitment, but it may also be the most rewarding endeavor a teacher can ever take on. (And not just because every once in a while you might come home to find delicious authentic international cuisine waiting for you after a … [Read more...]

The Gift of an International Sibling

July 28, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

When hosting with AYA, you can select a student that you feel will best fit your family's lifestyle, personality and interests, and your kids have a special opportunity to share their American lifestyle with an international high school student. As your family shapes the … [Read more...]