Program Reviews

In July of 2015, I embarked on the most amazing two weeks of my life with AFS's inaugural Global Prep trip to Ahmedabad, India. My group consisted of myself, four other American students, and our awesome chaperone from the New York AFS office. I had the time of my life on this trip. My host family was welcoming and accommodating, the host school was the most inviting and friendly place I've ever been, and the people were incredibly kind and generous. My favorite memories include learning Hindi from a teacher who refused to speak English to us -- thereby forcing us to be quick students -- and being sent on a bus ride around the city with the other students from school to enjoy the magic of monsoon season. All in all, it was a life-changing experience and I only wish it had lasted much, much longer.

I spent my junior year of high school in Fontainebleau, France with AFS USA, and it was sincerely the best experience of my life. I got to learn French, experience something other than my hometown, for lifelong bonds, and broaden my horizons.

There I was, ten months into my eleven month experience, sitting around a table with my entire host family, who had become more like my real family, my best friend, Ninnog, whom I had met at my dutch school, and my mom who came to visit for the occasion. It was my birthday and I was about to receive the most exciting news of my entire exchange.

Ninnog was going on a trip to the south of France the next day and I would be going back home before she would return.

So there I was, sitting at a table with my favorite people, at my favorite restaurant as I was opening my final gift: the card from my host parents. It said: "Dearest Grace, for your birthday this year, we are taking you to the south of France where you will go camping with Ninnog to spend your final weeks with her." I instantly began to cry.

Now, that was at the end of the year. Initially, my host family and I had a rough start. My host brother detested that I was living with them, I was extremely homesick and I had to attend an all Dutch school, when I didn't know any dutch! However, I wouldn't have wanted the entire year to be perfect, because then, I wouldn't have been given the opportunity to grow. As I've gotten older, I've found that it was because my host brother detested me and because I was homesick and because I had to attend an all Dutch school that I can look back on the year and feel as though I had a worthwhile experience.

I came out of it learning how to better handle relationships. I also learned that I can leave home and it will not be apocalyptic. I came back to the United States fluent in Dutch.

There is growth in traveling that cannot be achieved elsewhere.

If you want to find out more about yourself in ways you cannot even imagine, and have a whole lot of fun while doing it, I urge you to find a program and seize it!

I was in Japan for a full year, and it was the hardest and most fulfilling experience, even now, that I have ever done. I had studied Japanese for a year and a half before leaving, and had extensive classes on culture and more cultural aspects of the language. Even so, when I arrived I still had considerable trouble with the language and culture. Fortunately, my first meeting with my family was with my host sister, who spoke a fair amount of English. That lasted for one day, before we went to Tokyo and she left me with my host parents, who spoke no English. We met in Tokyo, but lived on the west coast in a small fishing village. No one there spoke English, but my host family was amazing and we'd always have a dictionary on the table, so as we struggled to speak one of us would use the dictionary to look up a word, and doing that everyday helped me learn really quickly. School was definitely the hardest part of my year abroad. I had been placed in an honours courses at my high school, so all the other students were very focused on studies and I didn't make any friends in my course. I was also expected to participate in all school work, and I was graded on my math, chemistry and biology classes, and also helped teach the English classes. My host school was very supporting and wonderful, but the classes and work was overwhelming at times, and it was also expected of me to participate in clubs. This program is not for people who don't like challenges. I was very fortunate in my placement, both with school and family, and even so life was very difficult. I loved being there, travelling, meeting new people and getting to learn the language and culture, but it left very little time to relax. I would recommend this program to everyone who is looking for a true challenge and a wonderful experience that will make you truly grow.

in the middle of nowhere. I grew up in the suburbs of NYC, where everything is accessible all the time, and so I panicked when I got my family assignment and googled their town and it barely seemed to exist. There were no pictures on Google Images! But small places are the best place to do your exchange - there, you get to be special. People pay attention to you or, in my case, all know your name. So I got lucky!

I can't imagine having not met all the people I did in Italy that are now integral members of my life. Living with a new family in a new place is the most refreshing sensation. Human kindness and restored faith in humanity are two of the biggest take-always from this semester abroad. I'm going to share a somewhat sad story but I think it is beautifu and rather emblematic of the kindness and love that can be found in a non-biological family.
At an AFS local chapeter event in the pugliese countryside, I was distraught with some personal issues going on. My host mother pulled me into a separate room and we had such a thoughtful and profound conversation, crying and so connected. After the party, my liaison took me to her home, where I took a shower and then we were sitting and she was brushing my hair, telling me how much she loves me I reciprocated the sentiment. There was so much love and connection. I felt like their daughter, and I still do, 4 years later, maybe even more so now. I can call them for anything, they are always there. Upon my departure, my host sister said to me "we will always come back to each other in this life". Her words have remained true. We are very much sisters. They are very much my other family. All of them; two mothers , a father , a grandmother, two sisters, and countless close friends who mean the world to me to this day.

I personally had a great experience. My host family was fantastic. I also got to hang out with other foreign exchange students in my local chapter in Japan and explore the large cities.

One of my favorite places in Nagoya is a small part of the city called Osu, a shopping district. There was a small desert restaurant with little paper slips all over the walls and ceiling. They gave us these slips, encouraged us to draw and them and leave them there as well. I had never seen that before.

AFS is great if you have good volunteers in your area. I highly recommend it.

My trip to Colombia with AFS was the best 2 weeks of my life. Every single day I think about my experience in Colombia. AFS Colombia are very caring people and want you to experience what Colombia has to offer. You learn so many new things about Colombia while you're there. Even trying new foods! Each day you experience a new activity such as going to a Joropo Festival, camping, spending time with your host family, attending a dance class and so much more. You make so many friends and meet so many amazing people that you will miss them once you leave Colombia. My most favorite part was going to a Colombian elementary school and helping one of my fellow AFSers with her project which was "Kids Tales" since she won the project change visionary award. Being able to meet Colombian children and talking to them was the best experience I had in Colombia. Overall, Colombia is the best place to go on a summer exchange trip. You will fall in love with the country.

My year abroad was--FANTASTIC! I studied abroad on the Speedwell Scholarship through AFS and had the best time of my life. I did face some challenges with my first host family, but overcame them and moved to a wonderful family living in inner city Cologne, Germany. Life in the city was exciting and new for a country bumpkin like myself! Some of the best times I had while abroad were spent at exchange student camps and traveling with amazing people from all over the world. This experience of independence, exploration, and inner-exploration changed my life in amazing ways. Plus, it gives me an edge in school and on college applications! Take the plunge and spend a year abroad! Your life will be changed!

Not a single day goes by that I don't think about my year abroad. I lived a life of a minority, by attending a school with a predominant Turkish school and living with a Turkish family. By living in another family, I was able to grow into a new person and learn adaptability. I had an experience of having siblings and a HUGE extended family that lived so close by. It was like nothing I was used to. Having my life turned upside down and nothing seeming normal, has made me a better person. The family and friends I now have in Berlin, makes it a magical city, and I would not of had that if it wasn't for