Every year, AFS-USA invites study abroad participants and recent alumni to share the beauty, culture, and unforgettable moments of their host countries through our AFS-USA Study Abroad Calendar Contest.
The contest gives students an opportunity to get creative and capture the people, places, and experiences that made their time abroad meaningful. From breathtaking landscapes to everyday moments of connection, each photo offers a glimpse into the unique perspectives and memories created through an AFS experience.
Below is a selection of submissions from our 2026 contest. Some of these photos will be featured in our 2027 Study Abroad Calendar, while others may be shared across AFS-USA’s digital and social media channels throughout the year.
Take a look and experience the world through the eyes of our AFS students and alumni!
Adam McDougall from NYC, Semester in France
Luc Escobar-Rivera from New Jersey, CBYX Program to Germany
“I spent my year in East Germany living in a town that is over a thousand years old (Osterwieck). [This photo was] taken some time in December, when I met up with a friend in Berlin. It was a particularly beautiful night and the city was submerged in fog, which gave everything a lush quality and the lights were especially magical in their murkiness.”
Max Okamoto from Austin, Texas, Iceland
Tessa McCallum from Grand Junction, Colorado, Semester in Japan
Hugh Gatchall from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, CBYX Program to Germany
“I feel like my exchange year really forced me to look in the mirror and evaluate which facets of myself I needed to alter to fully integrate into my host community. However, all of this cross examination brought to light some habits and beliefs I wanted to alter out of choice, ideas I never would have noticed or considered had I not left the states.”
“My study abroad experience showed me just how vast and diverse the world we live in really is. It opened my eyes to different cultures, traditions, and people that I have never encountered before, enabling me to realize that life’s greatest lessons aren’t learned from the comfort of our own homes, but by stepping beyond what is familiar. Every challenge I faced and every new experience I embraced, helped me grow into the person I have become today. Without this opportunity to experience what living life is I truly fear the person I wouldn’t have become without it.”
Owen Mazzuca from Salinas, California, Semester in Costa Rica
Eleanor Eddy from Cedar City, Utah, Year in Costa Rica
“There are so many moments that feel overwhelming while on an exchange year, but there are also moments where you can reflect on how much you have grown and accomplished.”“On my exchange I learned about life, culture, connection, and that there is more to the world than you could ever see in one lifetime.”
Thomas Cole from Chardon, Ohio, Year in Finland
Souji Godson-Miyake from Towson, Maryland, CBYX Program to Germany
“After studying almost a whole year in Germany, I realized that sometimes it is the simplest and most familiar aspects of life that we overlook. We often think we are living in the moment, but rarely take a second to appreciate the small details: The beautiful palette of colors in the setting, the warm inviting glow of the Christmas market at night, the chill of the autumn wind that you deeply inhale, and so on. During my exchange year under AFS, I was so happy to have been able to savor these small moments with my host family and my newly found friends abroad down to the last detail.”
Gabriel Bellanger from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Year in Japan
Marlee Guzman from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Semester in Costa Rica
“My experience abroad was definitely one of the most impactful experiences of my life thus far. Before I left I had a long list of things that I wanted to accomplish. Including goals and things to change about myself. While on my exchange, I met amazing people and made strong connections that I hope will last a long time. I not only got to practice and learn a new language, but I got to learn about myself as well. I came to accept things about myself that I had wanted to change before, and learned to love the person I am growing into…I’m forever grateful for getting an opportunity to have done this.”
Daniel Benson from Woodbridge, Virginia, Germany
“For me, the best way to describe my study abroad experience is with a Ferris wheel. You stand in line looking up at the ride, wondering what it will be like. Once you’re on it, you reach the very top, and everything feels incredible. Then you come back down, and things aren’t quite as exciting. Before long, though, you’re climbing back toward the top again. That’s what an exchange year feels like: a series of highs and lows. Not every moment is amazing, but when the ride is over, you look back and realize you had an unforgettable time.”
