Few moments compare to the excited, anxious, joyful feeling of when our exchange students step off the plane and meet the people they’ll begin to call family! Being welcomed by warm, heartfelt and even silly signs eases the tension and allows the first words and hugs to be exchanged. Even after hours of travel, those initial smiles waiting for you in the airport make the long journey well worth the wait!

We received so many fantastic, creative entries this year! The votes are now in and we have a couple of winners to announce! First up, the photo that received the most votes is:

Shukurillo from Kazakhstan and his host family, the Swanson, in Iowa! This year, the Swanson family is hosting two students, Shukurillo from Kazakhstan and Jose from Spain in a double placement!

Next up, staff members in the Aspect Foundation headquarters office in San Francisco chose their top pick. What a hard decision!

Handmade welcome sign made by host brother Daniel to welcome Pedro from Brazil!

Pedro from Brazil and his host family, the Webb, in Arizona!

Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everyone who submitted photos.  Remember these precious moments as you adventure through your year together!

Don’t stop sending us photos just because the contest is over! Tag us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram or send them via email to exchange@aspectfoundation.org. Your photos may be featured in an upcoming blog post or newsletter!

**Winners will receive their prize in a few days! **