February is #LoveACharity month! Historically, February has been one of the slowest months for charitable donations and volunteer engagement, but the #LoveACharity movement is working to change that. Read on…
Nicolette is an AFS Exchange Student from South Africa who is spending the school year with a host family in Colorado. She shares her insights on what it means to…
It all started in 1962, with a phone call to the Rayner family. Someone from their local high school in Maryland called Jacque Leedom (nee Rayner) and her family asking…
Exploring holiday traditions around the world with AFS As your exchange students experienced their first American Christmas, we asked them to tell us about their typical holidays traditions around the…
Spanish is one of the most widely-spoken languages on the planet. Whether you want to study abroad in Buenos Aires or boost your college applications, knowing Spanish will benefit your…
With its beautiful landscapes, vibrant traditions, and delicious foods, Chile is a fun and friendly destination to study abroad! Former AFS Exchange Student Rachael describes what it was like to…
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…
Recently, the Trump administration released its budget proposal for 2018, which includes a 55% cut to the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Among other valuable initiatives,…
How cultural understanding and global competency play a central role in the modern world Every day the world is becoming more and more interconnected. Since 1 in 5 jobs in…
In October 2017, Deniz Kaarayan, a former AFS international exchange student from Turkey, flew to Chapel Hill on her way to Boston to deliver a presentation on her medical research…
Hello! My name is Aqsa and I currently live in the Pacific Northwest as an AFS Exchange Student. I came here through a scholarship called the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study…
The following blog post was written by Rebecca A. Eckland, an AFS Returnee who studied abroad in France in 1999. Today, Rebecca is a professional writer and accomplished athlete who mentors…
When you go abroad, you have the chance to make new friends, develop unique cultural insights, and see the world from a different perspective. But… if you’re like most AFSers,…
Did you know that before starring in films like The Royal Tenenbaums and Iron Man, a 15-year-old Gwyneth Paltrow lived with a host family in Spain? Or that on his way to becoming…
Wondering what makes Ghanaian culture unique from an American perspective? We’re just scratching the surface, but these observations will give you a glimpse at Ghanaian culture through the eyes of…
September 1, 2017 | New York, NY – Trinity College’s 22nd President, Joanne Berger-Sweeney, has joined the Board of Directors of AFS-USA, a leading intercultural education organization headquartered in New York…
The White House recently announced that Malia Obama will be attending Harvard University but has decided to take a gap year before beginning her college studies. Generally, a gap year refers to…
France’s world-famous cuisine makes it a dream destination for anyone with taste buds and an appetite. In particular, the French are very proud of their cheese—and rightly so! For turophiles…
Milton Bennet, from the Intercultural Research Development Institute defines intercultural learning as an “area of research, study and application of knowledge about different cultures, their differences and similarities. On the…
Becoming “mom” and “dad” to an exchange student After a friend of theirs decided to host an AFS Exchange Student, Margaret and Matthew C. from Michigan were curious to see…
The Dordal/Boyd family from Olympia, Washington was excited to reunite this summer with their former exchange student, Gamze from Turkey. Despite the months and miles that separated them, Gamze fit…
Elijah documents his experiences traveling with his family and AFS on his popular YouTube channel, EliNation. Elijah Knorpp is not your average sixteen-year-old. He has eight siblings (five of whom are…
July 18, 2017 | New York, NY – AFS-USA is pleased to announce the election of Joan Bowman Siegel, an AFS Returnee and retired U.S. Government Analyst, as its new…
June, 2017 — Charlotte, NC — Myers Park High School has been hosting exchange students for over 33 years. How do we know for sure? Kaare Risung was an exchange student…
Just because you can’t get together with your friends and neighbors, doesn’t mean you can’t try new recipes! We’ve picked some of our favorite dishes from around the world to…
December 9, 2016 – Helene B. spent her AFS year in Indonesia as a recipient of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad (YES Abroad) scholarship funded by the U.S. Department of…
November 29, 2016 – Returnee and AFS-USA Intern, Maggie (pictured below) shares her advice… Advice from Maggie: Being an active global citizen after exchange For many AFS returnees, coming home to…
November 7, 2016 – Nico B. spent the 2012 -2013 academic year in Egypt with AFS and participated in the 2015 Returnee Leadership Summit. Since his exchange year, he has also…
November 7, 2016 – Maddy K. spent her AFS year in Germany as a recipient of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) scholarship funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and…
October 13, 2016 – Returnee and AFS-USA intern, Maggie V. (pictured below, right) shares her advice… As all of us AFS returnees know, the first few months after exchange ends can be…
When you’re curious about traveling the world, it’s natural to feel excited…and not altogether prepared. Check out these words of wisdom from AFSers who’ve been there! For Students Real AFS…
Iguazu Falls is a breathtaking waterfall located on the border of Argentina and Brazil. It’s a popular tourist destination, but also offers the opportunity to explore the natural beauty and…
September 21, 2016 – Dana Buzzelli is an alumna of the National Security Language Initiative for Youth scholarship program, funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and…
While food culture and eating habits are different around the world, people everywhere love to enjoy a good meal. When you host an international exchange student with AFS, your family…
Former AFS Study Abroad Specialist Hillary Weinberger shares her experience on her adventures with AFS students in Hungary. I’ve always said that the most important part about traveling is food. I…
At some point, we’ve all had our imaginations stirred by Spanish culture. From the intricate patterns of brightly-colored mosaics to a flamenco dancer clapping her castanets, there’s definitely something alluring.…
For James and Karen Graham, hosting an international exchange student with AFS has been a way to explore new cultures and make a positive impact. James’s family hosted an exchange…
April 25, 2016 – AFS is proud to announce the launch of The Volunteers: Americans Join World War I, 1914-1919, a unique and relevant curriculum about American volunteers in World War…
The fashion scene in Japan is vibrant and unique. This makes for a dynamic blend of styles, especially in the fast-paced city of Tokyo. Japanese fashion is continuously evolving as…
It’s easy to see why everyone’s interested in sustainable agriculture these days. By adopting new farming practices that focus on sustainability, we can develop smarter ways to feed our planet…
Certain things are so good they need to be shared with the world. Sometimes they spread like wildfire. Other times, they creep out so slowly and discreetly that we eventually…
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is known to many as one of the most influential leaders of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. His passion and enthusiasm for social justice and equality changed…
With its characteristically warm people, complex and beautiful landscapes, savory cuisine, and rich cultural traditions, Chile can make you feel good inside and out. It’s the perfect balance of comfort…
On November 30th, my Paraguayan classmates and I had our Prom/Graduation Ceremony! It’s really the polar opposite of Prom in the United States. Here in Paraguay, graduates invite all of…