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AYA Host Dad Reflects on Hosting Exchange Students

October 30, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

AYA Host Dad Reflects on Hosting Exchange Student | Academic Year in America (AYA)A

Sometimes life comes at you fast. It's often the things we take a chance on that change our lives the most. Byron and his partner never anticipated hosting an exchange student, but taking a leap of faith and going for it has made an impact on them more than they ever could've … [Read more...]

Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, AYA, cultural exchange, Exchange Student, exchange students, host family, international education, international student, italian exchange student, italy, texas

AYA Reunions: Former Exchange Students Reconnect in Vienna

October 27, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

AYA Reunions: Former Exchange Students Reconnect in Vienna | Academic Year in America (AYA)

When you host an exchange student, you're helping to bring the world together. Lifelong friendships and relationships are built across cultures and, sometimes, those connections help reunite participants later in life. Recently, two AYA alumni — Sophie from Germany and Larissa … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories Academic Year in America, alumni, austria, AYA, cultural exchange, exchange students, exchange year, germany, vienna

What It’s Like to Gain an International Sibling

October 24, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, PA

Helping strangers become international siblings is another way AYA helps families grow around the world! Following up yesterday's story from host mom Denise about hosting an international student from Germany, we are fortunate to share the experience from her daughter's … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories, Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, cultural exchange, German exchange students, high school exchange program, international education, international siblings, international travel

AYA Mom Shares Experience Hosting an Exchange Student

October 23, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

Luisa with her host family

Host mom, Denise, contributed the following story to share with you as a guest blogger, about her experience hosting an international high school student from Germany with AYA—and what hosting exchange students has done to help her family. Tomorrow, we'll share a similar account … [Read more...]

Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, cultural exchange, german exchange student, High school exchange, host mom, hosting an exchange student, international education

Life as a High School Exchange Student in the U.S.

October 10, 2017 AYA 4 Comments

home sweet home

Here is a great piece from an AYA exchange student from Pakistan now living with his host family in New York. Korish shares his expectations and the reality he experienced when he came to the U.S. as a high school exchange student. He wanted to share his experience as a thank you … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories, Host Family Stories, News Academic Year in America, cultural exchange, high school exchange in New York, student stories, YES student

AYA Host Family Braves Hurricane Irma

October 2, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

All of us at the CNN center in Atlanta during Hurricane Irma

Joe, an AYA host dad from Florida, shared the following about what it was like for his family to welcome Juli from Germany and face the challenge of a category 5 hurricane—quite a test of adaptability. Kudos to this family and the many communities coming together in support of … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories, Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, AYA, cultural exchange, high school exchange in Florida, hurricane Irma

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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

  • From Belgium to Belleville: AYA Student Meets Governor JB Pritzker
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  • Student of the Month: Leonardo from Brazil, Hosted in Pennsylvania
  • When Hosting Does Not Go According to Plan—and Still Changes a Life
  • Helping an Exchange Student Pursue Their Passions

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