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How a German Teen and a Kansas Resident Became International Sisters

May 2, 2019 AYA 1 Comment

Jess from Germany Poses with Host Sister in Kansas | Academic Year in America (AYA)

Hosting an exchange student can have a major impact on American children – in the best way. When your family hosts an exchange student with Academic Year in America (AYA), your children gain an international sister or brother whom they can rely on, learn from, and grow with. In … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories, Host Family Stories cultural exchange, exchange students, host families, hosting an exchange student, international siblings, why host, why hosting matters

What It’s Like to Gain an International Sibling

October 24, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, PA

Helping strangers become international siblings is another way AYA helps families grow around the world! Following up yesterday's story from host mom Denise about hosting an international student from Germany, we are fortunate to share the experience from her daughter's … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories, Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, cultural exchange, German exchange students, high school exchange program, international education, international siblings, international travel

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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Recent Posts

  • America250 Student Reflections Contest: Experiencing the U.S. Through Exchange Students’ Eyes
  • AYA Host Family of the Year: 2026 Winners & Stories 
  • “They Treat Me Like Their Own”: How the Hoffmans Made Fateen Feel Like Family 
  • What Happens When a Host Family Shows Up: The Story of the Starr Family and Greta 
  • Four Families, Four States, One Unforgettable Exchange Year

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