In Season 3 of the AFS Exchange Podcast, we’ve had the privilege of engaging with 28 guests across 12 episodes, each sharing impactful stories about how AFS has shaped their lives. To cap it off, we’re excited to share a special episode which showcases some of the season’s standout moments. And to mix it up, we’ve included amusing clips that didn’t make the final edits, and some cultural deep dives from the season! You’ll also hear from our podcast host Kate about the history of the show and some behind-the-scenes moments.

Click here to access a full transcript of this episode or to listen on a different platform.

Mert Özer from Türkiye and Ann Ford from New Jersey are halfway through their year together as AFS exchange student and host mother. Living in a home with two very active dogs, they share an appreciation for music.

From afar, they may seem like a unique pair. Mert is blind and Ann was born with a hearing impairment. But this has not stopped them from forming a close relationship. 

Tune in to hear about Mert’s experience in New Jersey, and the new experiences he has had on his AFS program- including dancing, living with dogs, and attending shows at Madison Square Garden!Mert is a participant on the U.S. Department of State’s Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES Program) which partners with Mobility International USA (MIUSA). 

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Each AFS participant’s experience on program varies, but Deb Moon and Juliette Cosh’s summer in Cyprus stands out as truly unique. Deb and Juliette, along with five other AFS students, were on this small island in 1974 when the Greek Cypriot military supported a coup to overthrow the country’s president. A few days later, the northern part of the country was invaded by the Turkish. Deb and Juliette were then evacuated to Lebanon.

In this episode we’ll explore the typical questions about AFS experiences, such as host families and skills gained. However, the focus will be on their gripping experience fleeing Cyprus during a period of uncertainty. It was during this tumult that they developed a friendship, one that has persisted over the years. Nearly five decades later, Deb and Juliette remain close friends, having met up multiple times. Most recently, they reunited in Utah during the summer with another participant from the Cyprus program, who was evacuated to England. Tune in to this episode to hear about the journey these two AFSers had in Cyprus and Lebanon, and discover how this unforgettable experience ignited a lifelong friendship that has endured through the decades.

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Celebrate International Education Week with us as we chat with two dynamic educators dedicated to instilling global competence in their classrooms. In this episode, we explore the significance of global competence through the experiences of Hannah Arrington from Bellaire High School in Houston, TX, and Ellen Ericson from Mahomet-Seymour High School in Mahomet, IL.

Both Hannah and Ellen, seasoned travelers and advocates for global learning, are eager to share their insights with students, regardless of their academic focus. AFS has played a crucial role in supporting their mission.

Join us as we delve into the adventures abroad that shaped Hannah and Ellen, discover their paths into education, and understand the pivotal role global competence education plays in their classrooms. Tune in for inspiring stories and witness their shared commitment, in collaboration with AFS, to cultivating global citizens in the classroom.

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Tatyana Sergeyeva, a Russian cultural exchange advocate, shares her inspiring journey as an AFS exchange student to Iowa in the early ’90s during the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union. She credits her AFS experience with helping her develop essential skills like empathy, confidence, and language fluency, which have shaped her career and global outlook.

Tatyana, who now lives in Chicago, has worked in a variety of industries, including academia, e-learning, publishing, international consulting, and financial services. She’s also a passionate language learner, having studied Spanish, French, Italian, and Japanese.

Join us as we explore Tatyana’s journey and the lasting impact of her AFS experience on her personal and professional life. Learn how she’s used her skills and values to build bridges across cultures and make a positive impact on the world.

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Before Dr. Richard Besser started his notable professional career, he was an AFS student in Australia. Since then, he has served as the Acting Director of the CDC, the Chief Health and Medical Editor for ABC News, and held many other impressive positions. Today, he is the President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a prominent philanthropic organization dedicated to shaping the landscape of health and healthcare in the U.S.

Throughout his expansive and varied career, the skills he gained during his AFS experience have proven instrumental. From public speaking to fostering curiosity and adaptability, AFS played a pivotal role in his success.

In this interview, we will hear about Rich’s experience in Australia, the lessons he learned, and how he has applied them to his work throughout the years. We’ll also delve into the issue of health in America and discover how the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is diligently working to create meaningful change.

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The Hummel family has found a unique way to spread the word about the host parent experience: TikTok! With over 125,000 followers at their account @Josiewhite201, they have successfully shared with the world the value that an exchange student can bring to their family and community.

Joselyn and Devin Hummel have hosted two AFS exchange students and are eagerly awaiting their third. During the early days of their second student’s year in Missouri, Joselyn stumbled upon TikTok and was inspired to share their experiences on the platform. Over the past year, they have posted all sorts of clips, ranging from funny and quirky to heartwarming and touching.

In this episode, Joselyn and Devin will share their journey of becoming AFS host parents, the invaluable lessons they’ve learned along the way, and the insightful advice they have for potential host parents. They will also talk about their TikTok experience and how they’ve utilized the platform to reach an impressive community, all while spreading the importance and value of intercultural exchange.

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“Your journey with AFS starts, but it never ends, because it will be with you for the rest of your life.” If you have ever studied abroad with AFS – or hosted an AFS student – you can probably relate to this! In the episode, Sarah and Tommaso share how their lives have been profoundly shaped by AFS. Discover how AFS fosters a lifelong connection to global citizenship and hear firsthand accounts of personal and professional growth.

Sarah has been a host sister to a girl from Brazil, a Peace Corps volunteer in Moldova, and AFS staff member. Tommaso from Italy started as an AFS exchange student in Houston, then became an AFS volunteer after his program. He is currently back in the US, interning at AFS-USA. These stories exemplify the lasting impact of cultural exchange. This is the #AFSeffect!

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Dr. Mitch Besser’s experience in South Africa began on his AFS program in the early 1970s, in the middle of the era of apartheid. 50 years later, his strong connection to the country remains. 

Mitch’s AFS program enabled him to break free from the limitations of his small-town upbringing and explore new possibilities, ultimately leading him to establish mothers2mothers, an organization dedicated to improving health and well-being in sub-Saharan Africa. Over the past 22 years, mothers2mothers has created nearly 12,000 jobs for women and reached more than 15 million people with essential health services.

Check out this episode to learn more about the life changing work that AFSers are doing all over the world, all with the goal to #PassPeaceForward. 

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You don’t need to go abroad for an entire year to be impacted by international exchange. In this episode, we explore the transformative power of short-term study abroad programs for high school students via 3 interviews with former participants to Spain in 2019.

They share their memories and insights on living with host families, learning Spanish, and exploring the culture and history of Valladolid. Through their stories, we discover how just two weeks outside of the U.S. can broaden one’s perspective, spark a lifelong passion for language and culture, and inspire future academic and career goals. Tune in to hear about the impact of short-term study abroad and learn about scholarship opportunities for AFS programs.

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Hosting an exchange student can bring a variety of benefits to host families, especially those with children, as it can change the way children perceive and interact with the world. In this episode we hear from several guests who have been either host siblings or host families with AFS-USA. Discover the benefits that hosting an exchange student can bring to your family, including teaching your children patience, compassion, and curiosity. Hear from our guests about their experiences bonding with young people from other cultures and the lasting impact it had on them. 

We will hear from two host fathers and their son about their experience hosting a student from Germany last year. Next, we will hear from a former AFS-USA student from Norway about his time becoming an older brother. We will then talk to one of his host brothers in the U.S. about his experiences having multiple host brothers from different countries as he was growing up. 

Click here to access a full transcript of this episode or to listen on a different platform.

Participating in an exchange program is an opportunity to have many new experiences… like finding yourself with new siblings! Living with host siblings can really add another dimension to an exchange program for a participant.

From the point of view of the host family, this experience can help open their child’s eyes to a world beyond their own. These exchanges allow host siblings of any age to begin to understand that despite living thousands of miles apart and speaking different languages, we have far more in common than we realize.

In this episode we hear from Erika from Norway and her host sister Jessica. Erika is in the middle of her exchange year in Ohio. Our second interview is a conversation with former host sister Janne Debes, who is still close with her Japanese host sister after more than 50 years.

Participating in an exchange program is an opportunity to have many new experiences… like finding yourself with new siblings! Living with host siblings can really add another dimension to an exchange program for a participant.

From the point of view of the host family, this experience can help open their child’s eyes to a world beyond their own. These exchanges allow host siblings of any age to begin to understand that despite living thousands of miles apart and speaking different languages, we have far more in common than we realize.

In this episode we hear from Erika from Norway and her host sister Jessica. Erika is in the middle of her exchange year in Ohio. Our second interview is a conversation with former host sister Janne Debes, who is still close with her Japanese host sister after more than 50 years.

In Season 3 of the AFS Exchange Podcast, we’ve had the privilege of engaging with 28 guests across 12 episodes, each sharing impactful stories about how AFS has shaped their lives. To cap it off, we’re excited to share a special episode which showcases some of the season’s standout moments. And to mix it up, we’ve included amusing clips that didn’t make the final edits, and some cultural deep dives from the season! You’ll also hear from our podcast host Kate about the history of the show and some behind-the-scenes moments.

Click here to access a full transcript of this episode or to listen on a different platform.