Exchange Student Stories

AYA Student Volunteers: Habitat for Humanity

April 13, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

Community service is often an engaging and rewarding way foreign exchange students can learn something new, help out and have fun as part of a team. In Ohio, Local Coordinator Cindy Anderson arranged for a group of AYA foreign exchange students to volunteer with Habitat for … [Read more...]

Happy National Volunteer Week from AYA!

April 12, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

It’s National Volunteer Week! This is a very important week for Academic Year in America, because the success of our programs depends so much upon volunteers. To all of our volunteer host families, we send out a hearty and sincere THANK YOU! Your generosity and kindness in … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Reflection: Roman from Germany’s Experience

April 7, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

Roman, a high school exchange student from Germany, provides the following detailed story about his experiences to let people know the value of international exchange from his firsthand perspective. An Exchange Year in the USA is a Worthwhile Experience "My name is Roman … [Read more...]

Meet Saidimar – Our Student of the Month!

March 31, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

We would like to congratulate Saidimar Salim for being selected as the Student of the Month for March! Saidimar has really shined this year in his school's musical and a cappella group by showcasing his amazing singing talent. But that is just the start. Saidimar is known for … [Read more...]

Arizona Memories

March 24, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

Today we travel back to Spring Break 2012 with a story from Fania, one of our German students, who took an unforgettable road trip through the southwest with her host family... Fania with her host aunt at the Ostrich Farm at Picacho Peak in Arizona. "During Spring Break, my … [Read more...]

AYA Behind The Scenes: Meet The Staff!

March 3, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

Get to know AYA behind the scenes! Over the next few months we will be "speed dating" our staff at the national office in Stamford, CT. In addition to supporting you and your students during your cultural exchange experience, they are striving each day to bring the world together … [Read more...]