Stories from Academic Year in America

  • Home
  • About the AYA Blog
  • Host Family Stories
  • Exchange Student Stories
  • FAQs
  • Request Info
  • Apply

What to Expect as an AYA Host Family

March 20, 2018 AYA 2 Comments

What to Expect as an AYA Host Family

There is nothing quite like the excitement of meeting a foreign exchange student who is about to become a part of your household! You become surrogate parents and gain a “new” son or daughter when you participate in cultural exchange through hosting with AYA. Expectant host … [Read more...]

Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, AYA, cultural exchange, foreign exchange students, host family

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

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...]

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 Students Honor Host Fathers and Show Appreciation

June 16, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

To Host Dads Everywhere, With Love | Academic Year in America

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 … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories, Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, arizona, AYA, cultural exchange, Exchange Student, exchange year, father's day, FLEX, host family, kazakhstan, new york, north carolina, pakistan, switzerland, YES

AYA Students Celebrate Host Moms, Share Memories and Give Thanks

May 12, 2017 AYA 1 Comment

AYA Exchange student and host mother

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...]

Exchange Student Stories, Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, AYA, cultural exchange, Exchange Student, exchange students, family, holiday, host family, host for america, host mom, mother's day, why hosting matters

10 Reasons to Host an Exchange Student

May 5, 2017 AYA 5 Comments

AYA Exchange Students

The following list of ten reasons to host an exchange student was written by Regenia, an AYA Local Coordinator with lots of experience exploring life in these United States through student exchange. From roots in Ohio, the branches of Regenia's family now extend around the … [Read more...]

FAQs #weareaya, #whyhostingmatters, Academic Year in America, AYA, Exchange Student, exchange students, host family, local coordinator

Get Students Talking: Conversation Starters and Strategies

March 13, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

Get Students Talking: Conversation Starters and Strategies | Academic Year in America (AYA)

How many of you can relate to this scenario? You: Hi! How was your day at school? Student: Fine. You: Did you do anything new? Student: Yeah. You: Like what? Student: I don't know…stuff (tuning out of conversation and in to electronic device). Sound … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories communication, cultural exchange, exchange students, exchange year, host family, local coordinators

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • …
  • 24
  • Next Page »

About AYA

AYA logo

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.

Search

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • YouTube

Categories

  • Exchange Student Stories
  • FAQs
  • Host Family Stories
  • Local Coordinator Stories
  • News
  • Volunteerism Stories

Recent Posts

  • Student of the Month: Estefania from Germany Hosted in Florida
  • Student Spotlight: Niklas from Austria Hosted in Georgia
  • Student Spotlight: Maya from Germany Hosted in Tennessee
  • Student Spotlight: Ilina from North Macedonia Hosted in Texas
  • High Schools That Make a Difference: Announcing the 2025 – 2026 Tony Cook Memorial Grant Recipients 

Follow blog via email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Copyright © 2026 · Daily Dish Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in