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AYA Alumni Letters: Giuliana from Brazil

January 10, 2018 Kelsey Polosino Leave a Comment

Foreign Exchange Student Host

Several of the 2016-2017 AYA students took some time to write letters to our 2017-2018 high school exchange students. They wrote about their reflections, advice and best wishes to help this year's group make the most of their exchange experience. … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories, Host Family Stories, Local Coordinator Stories alumni letters, AYA, cultural exchange, why hosting matters

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

Exchange Student Pledges to Inspire Change

February 10, 2017 AYA 7 Comments

Cultural Exchange at Its Peak | Academic Year in America (AYA)

Nayab is a YES student from Pakistan. She took the time to write the following reflection piece on cultural exchange after attending a mid-year orientation trip to California with a large group of AYA students. Please enjoy Nayab's thoughtful and very moving account of the … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories #weareaya, Academic Year in America, AYA, Exchange Student, exchange students, FLEX, grants program, pakistan, why hosting matters, YES Program, YES student

An Important Message from AYA: Embrace the Ideals of Cultural Exchange

February 1, 2017 AYA Leave a Comment

An Important Message from AYA: Embrace the Ideals of Cultural Exchange

In support of international education and opportunities to make empowered connections through public diplomacy, here is a message from Academic Year in America Executive Director Melanie French: Thirty-five years ago, the Academic Year in America (AYA) program began to provide … [Read more...]

News #weareaya, Academic Year in America, AYA, cultural exchange, Exchange Student, exchange year, high school exchange year, international exchange, why hosting matters

Why Hosting Matters: Khaled’s Story

November 30, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

Why Hosting Matters: Khaled's Story | Academic Year in America

The following article was contributed by Terri, a Local Coordinator from New York reflecting on how overcoming jitters to host an exchange student opens up the opportunity of a lifetime. I suppose you could think of a lot of reasons why you might not host an exchange student. … [Read more...]

Exchange Student Stories, Host Family Stories Academic Year in America, cultural exchange, egypt, Exchange Student, host family, local coordinator, new york, why hosting matters

Meet the Winner of the AYA Halloween Costume Contest!

November 3, 2016 AYA Leave a Comment

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 Student Stories, Host Family Stories #weareaya, Academic Year in America, AYA, contest, cultural exchange, exchange students, Halloween, high school exchange year, holiday, host family, why hosting matters

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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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Recent Posts

  • When Hosting Does Not Go According to Plan—and Still Changes a Life
  • Helping an Exchange Student Pursue Their Passions
  • Beyond the School Year: How Host Family & Exchange Student Relationships Last
  • How Hosting Strengthens Schools and Communities
  • Cultural Exchange Happens Around the Dinner Table

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