
Words of Wisdom from 2017-2018 AFS Exchange Students
May 2018 — This past mid-May, dozens of exchange students across the Carolinas spent a few hours together to consider the year they are wrapping up and what it will…
May 2018 — This past mid-May, dozens of exchange students across the Carolinas spent a few hours together to consider the year they are wrapping up and what it will…
The Dordal/Boyd family from Olympia, Washington was excited to reunite with their former exchange student, Gamze from Turkey. Despite the months and miles that separated them, Gamze fit right back…
After a friend of theirs decided to host an AFS Exchange Student, Margaret and Matthew C. from Michigan were curious to see what it was all about. Their son Andrew…
Moving to an American town 6,000 miles from home might leave a teenager shy or timid. But not Maryse, an AFS Exchange Student who came to Oshkosh, WI on a…
There are a few secret steps in this recipe that come from the owner of a Turkish restaurant! Not using a hand-blender makes all the difference!
I love this recipe because it's simple, and also because it can be vegetarian.
As learning moves from the classroom to the living room AFS-USA is ready to support families in their at-home learning environments. Below you will find resources to help students of…
They are the yummiest chocolate chip cookies I have ever had. The orange zest and nuts are optional based on your taste preferences.
This recipe is special in the sense that it makes you eat healthy and at the same time it is tasteful
AFS was founded in response to a global crisis in 1947 by American Field Service Volunteer Ambulance Drivers. In times like these, AFS Alumni around the world have demonstrated that it’s…
It's amazing and if you go to Argentina you have to eat them.
Tavche bean is a traditional Macedonian specialty. It carries the spirit and history of our country.
LeeAnn Pinchock is an AFS Returnee who spent her senior year in a tiny town near Cologne, Germany. Ann now lives in a small rural town twenty miles from Flint,…
Moroccan Almond Cookies (means silly cookie in English). This is the kind of Moroccan pastries I like the most, and makes me remember home. We enjoyed cooking together and the cookies are very tasty.
Fried noodles with meat and vegetables on it. “Yakisoba” is a very easy food to make, so it has been part of Japanese everyday meals.
Traditional food for Argentinians served at parties with friends.
A fabulous dish you will enjoy making and eating it. It is an authentic taste of Bavaria! Guten Appetit!
Easy fried rice with chicken and egg recipe.
Share your favorite recipes from around the world. We’re eager to explore new cultures and new dishes with our AFS community!
For the newest installment in our…From Around the World series, we delve into movies recommended by our hosted students from 90+ countries. Film reveals a lot about a specific culture,…
For the next post in our…From Around the World series, we explore favorite TV shows recommended by our recent hosted students. Because, let’s face it, who doesn’t love TV? As…
AFS-USA’s Director of Educational Outreach hosts Professional Development Webinars combining educational content, educational technology resources, and intercultural learning activities.
Of his time with his current exchange student, Adriana from Germany, Chris recalls making "20 million memories, the greatest of which is life."
Hosting an exchange student does more than impact your family's year; It can alter the course of your lives forever.
My family's experience hosting a foreign exchange student has helped shape who I am today.
On a trip to Italy, U.S. Host Parents Gayle and Randy discover what a small world it can be when you're part of the AFS community.
Emily Humphrey shares the heartwarming story of her relationship with her host daughter Lulu, the power of the #AFSEffect, and the value of intercultural learning.
Hosting an AFS Exchange Student opens your family to the world! We provide a glimpse into what it's like, answers to common questions, and what we do to support you.
We gave our hosted students the chance to thank their teachers for making them feel welcome in their classrooms and chose ten of our favorite messages.
Hosting an exchange student is an amazing opportunity to form lasting personal bonds, share your culture and values, and expand your family’s horizons. Each year, more than 2,000 families in…
Nudrat I. from Minnesota explains her reasons for hosting and how sharing the year with an exchange student from India has impacted her family.
We have gotten to know many wonderful young people, families and volunteers through our affiliations with AFS. Looking forward to traveling and visiting a lot of the young people.
Sheri is a shining example of a global citizen with an enthusiasm for intercultural exchange. A study abroad student herself, she made it a point to leave her small town…
When Amanda first decided to study abroad, her main goal was to learn Spanish. What she didn’t realize was how much more she would discover about the world and herself.…
We know that being black abroad comes with unique challenges. You may encounter different forms of racism and colorism or find that products for your skin tone or hair type…
The United Nations Global Goals, or Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are a great foundation for student learning. They are global in nature, yet they allow kids to focus on their…
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
It’s no secret that AFSers go on to do extraordinary things. Marcio A. da Fonseca is no different. Marcio, an AFS Returnee (Brazil to U.S.,1982-83) is the Director of Oral…
How does AFS-USA, a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization with more than 70 years of experience, continue to improve the ways that it engages with local communities? At one level, the organization…
Rural areas are ideal places to experience cultural exchange, from small-town high school spirit to traditional folk cultures, tightknit communities, and more!
For the second installment of our …From Around the World series, we dig into food! Or, more specifically, breakfast. We surveyed our exchange students and asked them to submit examples…
December 23, 2019 – On Monday, the Baltimore Sun published an article about AFS Exchange Students living with host families in the Baltimore area. The story highlights the students’ holiday…
December 20, 2019—Our staff had a blast mingling with world language educators and representatives from study abroad and global learning organizations at ACTFL’s 2019 Annual Convention and World Languages Expo…
The Edelweiss Scholarship is made available by the Clarksville Edelweiss Club. Scholarship Type: Merit-based Scholarship Value: $4,000 Available Scholarships: Two (2) Applicable Programs: AFS Year or Semester Programs to Austria…
To help you earn a scholarship to go abroad and become a changemaker, we’ve put together 8 tips to help you write a strong project proposal essay for the AFS…
Did you know that Richard Engel, NBC News’ chief foreign correspondent, is an AFSer? As a teenager in the early 1990s, Richard studied abroad in Palermo, Sicily, where he lived…
International Education Week (IEW) is an initiative led by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange. It…
Slang reveals much about a culture and its sense of humor, attitude, and values. It’s the words and expressions we use colloquially that are indicative of regional personality and spirit, as well as our intercultural similarities and differences.
December 3, 2019—AFS-USA President & CEO Tara Hofmann’s article, “Student Exchange as a Path to Global Citizenship” is featured in the December 2019 issue of Principal Leadership, a magazine published…
November 21, 2019—A half dozen volunteers received awards and honors during a Friday evening ceremony at the AFS-USA Volunteer Summit in Minneapolis, MN. The awards, given annually, are meant to…
Sudip Mukherjee Wealth Management Advisor and Portfolio Manager, Merrill Lynch As a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Sudip develops long-term financial goals and implements customized wealth strategies.…
Board Chair
For more than 70 years, AFSers like you have helped advance international awareness and cultural understanding while at the same time made the world a more just and peaceful place…
NEW YORK, N.Y., November 6, 2019—AFS released a large-scale research report on Tuesday, focused on the impact that AFS exchanges have on the lives and careers of participants. The full-scale,…
When we think of international diplomacy, we might imagine heads of state at official meetings, but in fact everyone can (and should) engage in diplomacy.
Individualist cultures value independence, while collectivist cultures prioritize interdependence and relationships with others.
Direct communication styles make the author’s intentions obvious—they say exactly what they mean. Indirect communication styles tend to hide or camouflage the speaker or writer’s true intentions and use a more nuanced tone.
Culture is not easy to define. Some aspects of culture are obvious and concrete, like art or attire, while others are less noticeable or even subconscious, like body language or the social values that dictate it.
My AFS journey began in the summer of 1996, when I went on an AFS year program in France.
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 29, 2019—Key voices for international exchange convened in Washington D.C. for a two-day conference led by the Alliance for International Exchanges (“Alliance”) on October 24-25. Held annually,…
Hosting sounded like an enjoyable experience with many benefits, so Jacque and her family said “yes!” This began an international friendship that would span 55 years.
October 16, 2019 | New York, NY — AFS-USA, Inc. has announced its plan to revise the name of its LinkedIn School Page from “AFS” to “AFS Intercultural Programs USA.”…
Pictured above: Carolyn Rehn (left) and Tara Hofmann (right) speak during a session on the Innovation Stage at the AFS Global Conference 2019 in Montreal, QC. October 14, 2019—AFS-USA President…
The Ups and Downs of Coming Home You’ve most likely grown and changed a lot during your time abroad, no matter how long you were away. Studying abroad is a…
Highlighting your Experience Many universities and employers recognize the value of a study abroad program. As you sit down to write your college essays and construct your resume, you may…
In September 2019, staff from the AFS-USA Development and Alumni Affairs team visited Penelope B., a US Returnee originally from Milwaukee, in her charming apartment on the 5th floor of…
If you are an American citizen traveling to any of these countries on an AFS Summer or Global Prep Program, you will not need to obtain a visa to participate…
New York, NY – October 3, 2019—In order to help increase intercultural awareness and global competency among all US-based high school students, not just those who choose to study abroad,…
AFS-USA is happy to announce that all three scholarships funded by the U.S. Department of State are now accepting applications for 2020-21 programs! We encourage you to learn more about…
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re highlighting influential Hispanic internationalists who advocated for peace, civil rights, and multiculturalism, either abroad or in the U.S. Our list includes artists,…
AFS develops active global citizens who help make the world a better place. Our study abroad programs empower young people from all backgrounds with essential global skills—and the passion for…
Educators are always looking for ways to expose their students to new cultures and ideas. In particular, world language teacher are focused on achieving the Goal Areas in the ACTFL…
Grace Madthing is an AFSer from Thailand who turned his experience as an exchange student into a passion for diplomacy between Thailand and the U.S. In his letter, he candidly…
If you reside in the US but you are not a US citizen, there are additional procedures to follow in order to travel abroad on an AFS program. As a…
The Essentials AFS Canada Welcome Booklet Program Calendar AFS Participant Guide AFS Medical Guide Arrival Information Digging Deeper Language Resources Duolingo (free language learning app) Rosetta Stone: French Babbel: French…
*Please remember that you MUST NOT REMOVE the apostille and/or staple from its attached document. Removal of either of these will destroy the authenticity of the apostille! Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California…
We’ve updated this blog to include responses from our hosted students as part of our …From Around the World series! Music is an important piece of almost every culture. As…
Craig Wilson U.S. to United Kingdom, 1966 Craig Wilson was a journalist for more than 40 years, spending 30 years in the newsroom at USA Today. He was a feature…
Julia E. Vollmers Returnee – U.S. to France, 1997-98 Julia E. Vollmers is a Program Manager with the Federal Government in Washington, DC, with a primary focus in data and…
Patrick S. Moon U.S. Ambassador (ret.); Returnee – U.S. to Brazil, 1967 Patrick S. Moon is a retired Senior Foreign Service Officer with the State Department. He served in Lebanon,…
William R. MacIntosh Returnee – U.S. to Brazil, 1964-1965 Bill MacIntosh retired in 2011 after 40+ years in uniform and business suits. Following his service as a U.S. Army Military…
William G. Meserve U.S. to Greece 1957; Young Leaders to Soviet Union 1984 Bill Meserve is a former Director and Board Chair of AFS-USA and former Trustee and Board Chair…
H. Jed Hepworth U.S. to Chile 1968 During six years as Director and especially as Chair of the AFS-USA Board of Directors during the chaotic first months of the COVID-19…
James A. Kiernan III U.S. to Germany, 1961 James Kiernan, is chairman of the Board of Directors at the Center for Public Integrity, is a former partner with and is…
Connie Askin Chief Executive Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Mass and MetroWest Returnee – U.S. to Portugal 1985; Chief Financial Officer, AFS International 2002-2004; Host Mom Argentina 2012,…
Dr. Ken Wallace High School District Superintendent, Park Ridge, Illinois Ken Wallace is the longest serving Superintendent in the District’s 121 years of history at Maine Township High School District…
Karen Treber General Counsel of Salisbury University, Maryland. AFS Host Family and Volunteer Karen Treber is the General Counsel of Salisbury University, Maryland. She previously served as General Counsel at…
Dr. Gregory Sabin Preceptor at Harvard Extension School, Harvard University Greg Sabin is a Preceptor (Instructor) at the Harvard Extension School, Harvard University, where he has taught finance and accounting…
Tara Hayward Consultant, Public Health Research and Development Tara Hayward brings a diverse and robust background in business strategy, finance, and fundraising to the Board of Directors of AFS-USA having…
Dr. Marcus Campbell Superintendent, Evanston Township High School Dr. Marcus Campbell has served as superintendent of Evanston Township High School (ETHS) in Illinois, District 202 since July 2022. Campbell was…
Murray Johnson Owner and Manager of a large manufacturing company in Wisconsin and a cattle and crop family farm in Ohio. AFS Volunteer, Host Family, Sending Parent – U.S. to…
Madelyn White Counsel: Carter Ledyard & Milburn AFS Returnee – U.S. to Belgium; U.S. to France AFS Host Sibling Madelyn White is deeply connected to AFS as a two-time returnee.…
Andrea Sehl U.S. to Switzerland, 1971-72 Andrea Sehl, known as Andie, is retired from management consulting, currently working to build the venture capital firm she helped found, and is serving…
Michael S. Schiff U.S. to Netherlands, 1966 Michael S. Schiff is the owner and President of Incomar Investments in Houston, Texas. He earned his BA in Communications from American University…
Ambassador (ret.) Thomas B. Robertson U.S. to Germany 1967-68 Ambassador (ret.) Thomas B. Robertson is a returnee from the AFS year program to Germany, 1967-68, where he lived with a…
Jenny K. Messner U.S. to Brazil, 1970-71 With her husband Michael Messner, Jenny established the Speedwell Foundation Study Abroad Scholarship Program with AFS-USA in 2007, which ran for 12 years.…
Martyn Redgrave Martyn R. Redgrave currently serves as Managing Partner and CEO of Agate Creek Partners, LLC, a professional governance and consulting services company co-founded by Mr. Redgrave in July…
In high school, Stephen Zhang knew he was ready for something new. He wondered what it would be like to start a new life beyond the comforts of his routine…
The Essentials AFS Serbia Welcome Booklet Get to Know Serbia AFS Participant Guide AFS Medical Guide Safety Tips Host School FAQ Serbian Music School Arrival Information Visa FAQ Digging Deeper…