Program Description | Getting There | AFS Orientations and Activities
Program Description
The year program involves a stay in a Latvian or Russian host family, studies in a local secondary school and an opportunity to learn two languages and cultures.
You would be expected to attend school on a regular basis and show effort throughout the school year. If you participate in the winter cycle, you should know that schools in Latvia have very long summer holidays, lasting about 3 months (June-August).
As with all AFS high school programs, you will be placed with a volunteer host family while attending a local host school.
Students are placed throughout Latvia.
Getting There
You and your fellow AFSers will travel together from one of the gateway cities in the United States. You all will arrive in Riga, the capital of Latvia, collect your baggage and pass through customs.
You will be met by AFS staff and volunteers and will participate in a welcome orientation together. Some students are met by their host family the same day and have their arrival orientation at the local level the next day. Others are taken straight to the camp and only later to their host families.
AFS Orientations and Activities
AFS will provide you with several orientations throughout your experience. These orientations give you a chance to gather important information about your host country, to meet other AFS teens from around the world, to share experiences and make friends. These group activities give you a chance to understand and process your intercultural learning experience during your time abroad as well as when you are returning home.
These required orientations are intended to help you maximize the AFS experience, prevent culture shock and to gain knowledge, skills and a global understanding.
During the arrival 24-hour orientation, you will get to know some local AFSers, learn about AFS, its mission and history, AFS policies and requirements, culture shock and the adjustment process, realistic expectations, safety and support issues.
Two weeks after your arrival, you will go to a five-day Post-Arrival/Language camp at the regional level, which will help you develop basic Latvian language skills and prepare you for life in Latvia. You will have a chance to meet other AFSers from around the world, ask questions and learn about AFS in Lativa as well as about Latvian culture, economics and politics. You will be asked to perform in a talent show and represent your home country. Following that you will return to your host family.
