Program Reviews

I spent one year in Germany through the CBYX scholarship and it changed my life forever. I was able to learn a new language, meet tons of amazing people, and develop myself personally. I would recommend YFU because I always felt supported and always got good, educated answers when I called with a question. I had to go through a host family switch and they were great, facilitating my needs and always making sure I was safe. So, go out and change your life and participate in a YFU exchange!

Being a part of the YFU exchange program to Japan for six weeks this past summer has been one of the best experiences that I have had. It is a memory that I will now treasure for the rest of my life.
The day that I was accepted I remember the excitement that I felt as I opened that email and I carried that excitement with me until the day I departed for Japan.
Before we all left for Japan we had a three day Japanese specific orientation at the University of Berkeley California. Arriving in Berkeley was where I was able to connect with all of my other peers as we would all be traveling to Japan together. The three days in Berkeley passed quickly. We had many different classes to attend, such a Japanese etiquette, what to expect at a Japanese highschool as well as, Japanese language, which was the hardest for me because I know very little Japanese.
Leaving the USA for Japan is an experience that I have a hard time describing. There were many thoughts going through my head as we took off. The entire trip had yet to sink into my brain, it felt as if it were still in a dream. The trip finally became real as our plane landed in Narita Airport. For me the most nerve wracking part of the entire trip was the anticipation of meeting the family that I would stay with for the entire summer. I had been in touch with with my host family prior to meeting them in person, but did not know how to express my gratefulness towards them for hosting me for the summer. Not knowing what to say as I met them made me the most nervous. However when I meet my host family in person for the first time I felt completely comfortable with them and by the end of my exchange program they became my second family.
Taking part in the Japanese exchange program presented me with so many opportunities I would not have otherwise thought possible. I became a more confident person as I had to learn how to navigate the complex train systems of Tokyo as I daily commuted to my Japanese Highschool for the first two weeks of my stay. I was able to experience part of the life of a Japanese student as I attended classes with my newly acquainted Japanese friends. I also had to learn how to communicate with less words and more pointing and gestures due to my limited Japanese vocabulary.
Everything that I did on my exchange sponsored by Kikkoman, YFU ( Youth For Understanding) and FCCLA ( Family Career and Community Leaders of America) from exploring all over Tokyo to hiking out in the mountains with my host family, to seeing how the Japanese live life from day to day was an experience that would have never been able to fathom. I grew so much as a person during my exchange in Japan and leaving Japan at the end of those six weeks was one of the most difficult things that I’ve done in my life. If ever you have the chance to take part in an exchange program I say seize the opportunity ;it may just change your whole life as it did mine.

After meeting a few of the exchange students that attended my high school during freshman year, I quickly committed to the idea of doing an exchange of my own. Unfortunately, this dream definitely came with a high price tag that made me consider whether or not I would have to wait until college or beyond to end up traveling. After discovering that Youth For Understanding had a range of scholarships (including the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) & Okinawa Peace scholarship programs), I found that it was actually impossible to go abroad without price being an issue. I spent my sophomore year of high school abroad as a CBYX scholar which was arguably the most important year of my life in terms of defining who I am today. Thanks to my year in Germany, I have lifelong friends and connections that will last me a lifetime. This upcoming summer, two of my German school friends will even end up spending a few weeks visiting me in Michigan! Studying abroad has led me to be more confident in talking to unfamiliar faces, given me a sense of what's important for my future (I'm planning on studying outside of the United States for college), and motivated me to take any chance I can to travel the world. My first exchange experience was so unique and exciting that I ended up spending the summer after my junior year in Okinawa, once again with YFU. I'm looking forward to becoming more involved in the international community in my future, thanks to my adventures abroad!

My time spent in Germany has been life changing! One of my most favorite memories was afternoons spent with my sisters, biking around my city and exploring Europa by train, bus, and by foot. I was able to visit the town were my grandfather grew up, aided refugees, and made friends and family internationally. I am grateful for YFU, they truly made my experience amazing and always helped me. One of the best things, was my 3 week language camp as soon as I was in Germany. Not only did that help my German, but I have such great memories

Hello! My name is Aina Swartz and I am currently a senior at Mercer Island High School in Seattle, WA. The six months I spent studying abroad in Sweden with YFU last year absolutely changed my life. I had the time of my life and grew so, so much as a person. I stayed with a host family (a mom, a dad, and two younger kids) in a suburb of Stockholm called Huddinge, which was only about 20 minutes by train into downtown Stockholm. My school was absolutely amazing- my class was full of immigrants who were so welcoming. Not only did I get to try Swedish food, but I also tried amazing Turkish food for the first time in my life as one of my good friends was from Turkey! My host family was very nice, and spending Christmas with them was very fun, even if I did miss my family :) I made so many life-long friends while in Sweden. Even though I only spent 6 short months with them, I know I will never forget them. This trip was really life-changing- not only did it confirm my desire to study international relations at university, but it also exposed me to real social problems in that part of the world such as the refugee crisis.YFU was so great about helping me with any dilemmas that came up during my trip, and I even volunteered with their Swedish Office as a speaker at the weekly information events for prospective Swedish exchange students. Overall, my time in Sweden was absolutely amazing, and I would recommend it to absolutely anyone.

I started my exchange year as a 15 year old and experienced ten months of soul-searching, discovery and laughter. During my short time in Sweden I found a host family that means the world to me, friends that remain close to this day, a new language that represents hard work, a second home waiting for my return and countless cherished memories. The liberating feeling of independence and responsibility that came to me at such a young age helped to shape me as a global citizen with a deep appreciation for different cultures and people. YFU gave me the opportunity to change the trajectory of my education and career plans by introducing me to a world of possibilities. Studying abroad is one of the most amazing things you can do as a high schooler, and I'm always grateful I took a chance and went on the adventure I did.

When I was 14, I received a full scholarship (the Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange Scholarship) to study abroad in Germany my sophomore year of high school.

Wow, was that an amazing year.

Not only do I have a second home, fluency in a second language, and some incredible, international friends; I also have such a heightened and much more enthusiastic outlook on the world that I would have certainly never acquired had I not studied abroad. I am a global citizen; the world is my home, and I couldn't be more excited to explore it after having lived abroad.

My exchange year made me stand out from my classmates and presented me with myriad opportunities and ideas (that still keep coming!) that would not have been possible without my exchange experience.

I think of Germany every day -- after all, it really is my home away from home.

I deeply urge each and every one of you reading this to go onto Youth for Understanding's website and at least check out their programs and scholarship opportunities. I am more than certain that there will be at least one program that really suits you, although studying abroad anywhere will truly be a life changing experience.

I'll end with this cheesy, but important note: Do yourself, your resume, and your future and big favor and study abroad today. ;)

I loved my trip to Finland!
We were able to take trips to neighboring Estonia and Sweden as well, but Finland itself is great. The program allowed me to stay with an amazing family, make great friends, and visit fascinating places! A group of us explored abandoned ruins on the outskirts of the capital and learned to get lost in the beautiful streets.

This was honestly the best year of my life. I was lucky and received a scholarship fir the whole year or elsr I wouldnt have been able to ggo.
YFU was amazing and the mid year trip was one of the funnest weeks I had there. The people running the show are freindly and the other students in the program really made my time there memorable.
The people I met in Germany will certainly be in my life forever. My host family, my friends?, my boyfriend :)
I plan on moving back there to participate in an international degree program and I honestly couldnt be happier with my time in Germany.

I chose Norway to study abroad mostly because I wanted to go somewhere a little off the beaten path. I didn't want to be the person who went to England or Spain or France. I am so glad I chose YFU and Norway. YFU provided a lot of support and I was lucky enough to live near their headquarters in Oslo. They matched me with an amazing host family, one who made sure I learned how to speak Norwegian and that I made friends and had a wonderful time. Going to a Norwegian school was difficult at first, but with a lot of patience and hard work I actually understood what the teachers were saying and was able to respond. The darkness in winter definitely takes some getting used to, but you just have to have a really positive attitude and a willingness to adopt a new culture. Overall it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.