Host Family Stories

Meet a Host Family: Julie in Kansas

April 30, 2025 AYA Leave a Comment

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...]

Meet a Host Family: Allen in Kansas

April 29, 2025 AYA Leave a Comment

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...]

Meet a Host Family: Chris & Shelby in Kansas

April 28, 2025 AYA Leave a Comment

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...]

Meet a Host Family: Christy M. in Kansas

April 27, 2025 AYA Leave a Comment

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...]

Meet the 2023-24 Host Family of the Year: The Kirkendall Family in Idaho

June 5, 2024 AYA Leave a Comment

The Kirkendall Family with Lina, their German exchange student Our favorite annual tradition is here – announcing Host Family of the Year! Each and every year, AYA students and Local Coordinators across the United States submit meaningful, heartwarming nomination letters about … [Read more...]

A Reflection on Gratitude and Hosting an Exchange Student

June 3, 2024 AYA 1 Comment

The following post about gratitude and hosting an exchange student was contributed by Melissa Jackson, host mom and former Local Coordinator who now serves as a Field Developer with Academic Year in America (AYA). Gratitude is a powerful emotion that can transform our … [Read more...]