Stories from Academic Year in America

Cultural Exchange: When Red and Blue Make Purple

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For International Education Week, Ecem from Turkey — who is hosted in Illinois — reflects on her exchange year experience and how she's been impacted by and grown from cultural exchange this semester. International education and cultural exchange are important to me, because … [Read more...]

Emma’s Journey from Germany to the Grand Canyon

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Emma from Germany is spending her exchange year in Arizona and, as such, only had one place she wanted to check off her travel bucket list while in the state: the Grand Canyon! Check out her reflection on the experience: Shortly after my arrival in Arizona, my host grandma … [Read more...]

AYA Host Dad Reflects on Hosting Exchange Students

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Volunteering to serve food at a homeless shelter 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 … [Read more...]

AYA Students Honor Host Fathers and Show Appreciation

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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 these stories from AYA students that who … [Read more...]

AYA Students Celebrate Host Moms, Share Memories and Give Thanks

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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...]