An AFS student at the beach
High school students and high school teachers can spend a summer, semester or year in one of 50 countries.
AFS asked recent AFS returnees to describe their experience in just one word and their responses included: "life changing", "unforgetable", "awesome" and "wow". Below are more in depth reflections of recent Arkansas AFS returnees. To learn more about what is involved in going abroad with AFS click here.
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Memory A. of Little Rock
Day One, I stepped out of my AFS counselor's car and shakily said, "Uhhh... Hola? Estoy muy... um, feliz?" My host Mom gave me a look that sort of said, 'This might be a tough one...' It was their first time hosting an AFS student and my first time being one so it looked like we had our work cut out for us.
There are few words to describe the things you learn while on an AFS exchange program. The most important is that we are not alone in this world. English is not our global community's only language. Not everyone can spend five dollars each day. People can be happy without a plethora of choices. Choosing to go on my exchange to a developing country really humbled me, and made me appreciate all that I have, all that I can do.
To read the rest of Memory's experience and see more pictures click here.
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Lauren J. of Little Rock
As an unforgettable experience, my year abroad with AFS ranks number 1 in my life. Going from a city girl to living in the Belgian countryside made a huge impact on who I am today.The day after I arrived I remember calling my mother to say I had arrived safely but instead I could not stop talking about the beautiful landscape and the fact that there were horses down the street and cows right next door. I went overseas having almost no language experience and the first month or so my host parents tried desperately to talk to me in English until my French improved. There were several times when either my host parents or I tried to pronounce things in French or English and instead we wound up laughing for several minutes when we learned what we had actually said.
To read the rest of Lauren's experience and see more pictures click here.
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