AFS-USA Volunteers Bring Student Voices to Chicago’s Airwaves
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month in the U.S.! Volunteers are at the heart of AFS-USA, creating impact in their communities…
Host Family Articles
From One Student to Thirteen: How Hosting Changed Our Family Forever
By Christina Morales Wood, AFS-USA Host Parent and Board Member Being a host family was never on our agenda. But…
What Happens When You Say Yes to Hosting an Exchange Student: Meet the Dolan Family
The Dolan Family, currently living in Pennsylvania, have hosted three students: Hana from Japan, Kika from Slovakia, and Putt from Thailand, who they call ‘lifelong family…
Geert’s Legacy: How One AFS Exchange Changed My Life Forever
The following was written by AFS-USA volunteer and host parent Matt Lewis. In the summer of 1973, AFS exchange student…
A Short Time, a Big Connection: Our Experience as a Welcome Family
In late summer of 2017, my husband and I felt compelled to bring an AFS Exchange Student to our community…
How YES Students Made Our Family Grow
My husband Ben and I do not have children. We both come from small but loving families, where we are…
How Hosting Mudy From Tanzania Changed Our Family Forever
We began hosting Mahmoud “Mudy” Hassan Omar from Tanzania in the fall of 2024 through the YES (Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange…
The Lifelong Benefits of Hosting an Exchange Student for Your Children
There are countless benefits to hosting an exchange student in your home when you have children. AFS exchange students form…
How Do Our Students Get Here?
Introduction Have you ever wondered what the AFS student application and selection process entails? What makes a great candidate for…
Building a Global Family with AFS-USA
AFS-USA host parents come from all walks of life – while some are retirees or seniors who are looking for…
Challenging Assumptions: One Host Family’s Journey with AFS-USA
Bradley and Lance are an AFS host family currently living in Madison, Wisconsin. As first-time host parents, they welcomed Daniel…
My study abroad story from Italy to the US: an unexpected return
Tommaso Casavecchi is an AFS-USA Marketing Intern, an AFS alumnus (Italy to U.S., 2018) and a volunteer in his hometown…
7 Reasons You Should Host an Exchange Student
Hosting an exchange student with AFS-USA is not only a wonderful experience for a teen from another country – it’s…
Three Generations of Hosting with AFS-USA
The Quandt family first started hosting with AFS-USA in the 1960s when they welcomed Kashu, a student from Afghanistan, into…
Meet Mikea: AFS Host Student and Global Citizen
Mikea R. is an exchange student from Albania on the YES Scholarship Program (yesprograms.org), hosted by AFS-USA in Rockford, Illinois.…
Why Hosting is a Rewarding Experience
This blog features interviews from the Judy family and two students hosted by Dar Fredrickson in Pennsylvania. Both interviews were…
20 Fun Activities for you and your Exchange Student
Whether you’re hosting a high school exchange student or your relatives from abroad are visiting, these quintessential American activities are…
AFS Welcome Families make a world of difference
What is a welcome family? A welcome family provides a home and a warm welcome for a student for a…
How hosting an exchange student kept me sane after study abroad
AFS/YES Abroad exchange student alumna, Carly, shares her family’s experience hosting Fionn from Germany! Hosting an AFS exchange student from…
How to Enrich Your Family by Hosting
After a friend of theirs decided to host an AFS Exchange Student, Margaret and Matthew C. from Michigan were curious…
Movies from Around the World
For the newest installment in our…From Around the World series, we delve into movies recommended by our hosted students from…
TV Shows from Around the World
For the next post in our…From Around the World series, we explore favorite TV shows recommended by our recent hosted…
How one Florida dad gained another daughter
Of his time with his current exchange student, Adriana from Germany, Chris recalls making "20 million memories, the greatest of which is life."
Bringing the world into your home: The unexpected effects of hosting an exchange student
An AFS Host Mom discusses how she and her family spread peace through understanding.
A host sister’s perspective – Gaining a sister and an open mind
My family's experience hosting a foreign exchange student has helped shape who I am today.
Welcoming a Host Daughter, Gaining a Friend: An Interview with Emily Humphrey
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.
5 things you always wanted to know about hosting an exchange student
Hosting an exchange student is an amazing opportunity to form lasting personal bonds, share your culture and values, and expand…
Global family; lifetime of hosting starts with “Welcome”
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.
“What culture?” – Why rural areas are perfect for cultural exchange
Rural areas are ideal places to experience cultural exchange, from small-town high school spirit to traditional folk cultures, tightknit communities, and more!
AFS Families create global friendships that last a lifetime
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.
An Open Letter from a Thai AFSer on Hosting
Grace Madthing is an AFSer from Thailand who turned his experience as an exchange student into a passion for diplomacy…
Coming Home: An Interview with AFS Alum, Stephen Zhang (China to U.S., ’07-’08)
In high school, Stephen Zhang knew he was ready for something new. He wondered what it would be like to…
Why Your Family Should Host an Italian Exchange Student
In today’s era of misleading headlines and political divisions, separating fact from fiction can be tricky, especially when it comes…
Jenny & Beth’s Multicultural Family: “Two is better than one”
Jenny O. and Beth R. were very familiar with foreign exchange and travel– Jenny’s family hosted students three separate times…
Blog, Study Abroad Articles, Host Family Articles, Volunteer Articles, Educators Articles, Impact Articles, Alumni Articles
My Multigenerational AFS Family
It’s 2018 and I’m sitting in my grandmother’s sunny Ohio kitchen. We just went to two estate sales and are…
Say “Yes!” to Hosting: The Lounibos Family
The AFS 2018 Reel Life Winners, The Lounibos Family, share their thoughts on how Lison, their host daughter, changed their lives!
My study abroad story: People welcomed me with an open heart
Hello! My name is Aqsa and I currently live in the Pacific Northwest as an AFS Exchange Student. I came…