Exchange students from Pakistan, Germany, Ukraine and Turkey share sweet tributes to their host mothers for Mother’s Day. This Mother’s Day, we at Academic Year in America (AYA) would like to give a special thank you to all AYA host mothers. By opening your heart and home to … [Read more...]
Exchange Student from Indonesia Shares “Thankful List” this Holiday Season
Often, the holiday season is filled with friends, family, and giving thanks. This year, Surya, an Academic Year in America (AYA) and YES Program exchange student from Indonesia, is thankful for many things – big and small. Paying tribute to the many life-changing experiences … [Read more...]
AYA Students Celebrate Host Moms, Share Memories and Give Thanks
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...]
To AYA Local Coordinators, With Love: Part 1
All across the country, AYA exchange students get a lot of support from Local Coordinators. These folks work hard to help students and host families make meaningful connections and enjoy their participation in international high school exchange. In honor of Valentine's Day, … [Read more...]
New Year, New Experiences: Muzne’s Reflections
At this time of resolutions, planning and goal setting for the year ahead, it is delightful to share the following from Muzne R. from Kenya. Muzne is enjoying her time as an AYA student living in Florida. She describes some highlights of her year so far, including one amazing … [Read more...]
A Very Special AYA Christmas
Sharing holiday traditions can be a fun way to get to know more about another culture. Fatima, a YES student from Lebanon, shared the following about her experiences learning about Christmas and volunteering in her community with her host mom. It's lovely to see people coming … [Read more...]