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YES Student Keeps an Open Mind

June 24, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

Academic Year in America Exchange Student from Jordan Embraces New Community

Here's a great example of how an open mind and willingness to explore life outside of your comfort zone can yield wonderful results to overcome culture shock and make real connections with people that seem so different on the surface. The following submission from Daniel, a YES … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories Academic Year in America, AYA, community, Exchange Student, exchange year, high school exchange year, host family, local coordinator, why hosting matters, YES, YES Program, YES student

Ambassadors for America: Host an AYA Student

June 23, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

Academic Year in America Student Shares Memory of School Play in United States

Host families do so much to show students from around the world what America is really like. It means so much to these students to live as part of an American family and go to school and interact with American teenagers. As you'll see in the passage below, Marie, an exchange … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories Academic Year in America, AYA, Exchange Student, exchange year, germany, host family, school play

FLEX & YES Students Share AYA Memories

June 21, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

Academic Year in America YES and FLEX Students

The FLEX and YES grants, provided by the Department of State, enable students from all over the world to study, volunteer and experience America. These students are extremely bright, talented and hardworking. They are wonderful additions to host families and high schools across … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories Academic Year in America, AYA, exchange students, exchange year, FLEX, FLEX student, foreign exchange students, host family, international exchange, why hosting matters, YES, YES Program, YES student

Celebrating Host Dads this Father’s Day

June 17, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

Academic Year in America Celebrates Host Father's Day

Thank you to all of the host dads across the country. The opportunity you give AYA students to see what life is like in the U.S. and become a part of an American family is remarkable. Thanks for the warm welcome and fatherly support you provide our international students. Just … [Read more...]

Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, AYA, Exchange Student, exchange year, family, father's day, host dad, host families, host family

Lifting the Veil: Uncovering and Defying Stereotypes

June 8, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

Academic Year in America - International Exchange Student - Muslim Faith - Defying Stereotypes

The following article was contributed by Terri, an LC from New York reflecting on her experience hosting Muslim students in rural America. Five years ago, we welcomed our first student who wore a head covering. She was from Pakistan, so she wore more of a scarf than a full … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories, Local Coordinator Stories Academic Year in America, AYA, Exchange Student, exchange year, hijab, international exchange, local coordinator, muslim, why hosting matters

Making a Difference: World Oceans Day

June 8, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

Academic Year in America German exchange student in Florida Keys, United States

In honor of World Oceans Day, June 8, 2016, we are happy to share this story written by Bo, a former AYA student from Germany, during his time as a high school exchange student in Florida. Bo wrote about his fantastic adventures volunteering to preserve marine life in the Florida … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories Academic Year in America, AYA, exchange year, florida, florida keys, germany, high school exchange year, why hosting matters, world oceans day

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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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  • Helping an Exchange Student Pursue Their Passions

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