This year marks the 35th year of AYA, and at this time of Thanksgiving, we want to take a moment to say thank you to everyone that has helped us reach this milestone. It is an honor to share the AYA experience with such a generous and kind network of host families, local … [Read more...]
Meet the Winner of the AYA Halloween Costume Contest!
Every year, AYA exchange students are immersed in Halloween traditions in the United States: pumpkin carving, corn mazes, trick-or-treating, dressing up in costume and more. This year, we decided to have a Halloween Costume Contest for AYA students and host families across the … [Read more...]
Exchange Students Celebrate Autumn Across America
Fall fun and holiday celebrations include Thanksgiving and Halloween, birthdays, harvest fairs and more. Many of these events are special "firsts" for AYA students, like the following submission from AYA student Fernanda from Brazil: Trick or Treating for the First … [Read more...]
Fourth of July: Celebrating America the Melting Pot
This Monday we celebrate Independence Day. Commonly called the Fourth of July, the day commemorates how colonial Americans fought for and won freedom from English rule. In 1776, our founding fathers declared independence from England and established the United States, so today we … [Read more...]
Happy Mother’s Day AYA Host Moms!
Host moms are heroes! As we prepare to celebrate Mother's Day, we at AYA are thinking about our wonderful host moms across the country. Thank you—and best wishes to all of you beautiful people—today and always! We hope you know how much you are appreciated. AYA host moms mean so … [Read more...]