What are your weekend plans with your host family?
Here’s Africa from Spain in Washington state, ready to jump into the weekend with her host family’s granddaughter!
Here’s Africa from Spain in Washington state, ready to jump into the weekend with her host family’s granddaughter!
Pia from Norway is experiencing America in Washington for the 2015-16 academic year. In today’s post she shares with us 7 things she has learned as an Aspect Foundation exchange student!
“My name is Maria and I’m from Spain. I have been an exchange student for almost 10 months in Utah. I’m writing this letter to thank all the people that made this experience possible.”
With a month left of the 2015-16 exchange year, our inbox has been overflowing with notes from Aspect Foundation students expressing their feelings as the year comes to a close. Today our post is written by Nimfe from The Netherlands, who shares tips for the new students arriving in September and thanks her host family for ‘making her American Dream come true’!
Aspect Foundation exchange programs don’t just benefit our students, they change our host families’ lives forever. Today we hear from Kathy who describes her experience as a host mom over the past two years, and how through each year of hosting her family grows bigger and bigger!
When our students spend a year experiencing life in a new country, it’s so important that they receive support from both of their families: at home and abroad. Like all Aspect students, Anna relies on her host family for support, guidance, love – and sometimes adventure!
Annette and her husband Max wavered for years about making the decision to host an exchange student. It never felt like the right time. After finally deciding that there was no “right time,” Annette and Max took in Esther, an Aspect student from Germany. Annette was kind enough to speak with us about her experience becoming a host parent, welcoming Esther into her home and growing together as a family.
Last month, we received a special letter from one of our former exchange students, Emmi. The letter traveled all the way from Finland with an important message for you 🙂 Dear exchange students, I have something important to share with you. The year you’re living right now in the US is one of the greatest gifts you’ll …
One of the most common assumptions people make about hosting an exchange student is that only families with teenagers at home have much to benefit. “Our kids are too young; it won’t be meaningful,” or “Isn’t it better to wait until the kids are in high school?” are often heard concerns. Tiffney, a host mom with …
For this week’s Thank You Thursday, we hear from Victor from France who spent the 2020/21 school year in Nebraska. Victor has been back home in France since last May, but the people he met during his exchange and the wonderful memories they created together are always on his mind. Of course I’m still thinking … Continue reading
For this week’s Thank You Thursday, Mercedes from Spain tells us about her exchange in Montana where she spent the 2020/21 school year. Mercedes encourages other exchange students to not be afraid and to enjoy every little thing because – as she only knows too well – time flies when you are an exchange student! … Continue reading
One of the most common assumptions people make about hosting an exchange student is that only two parent households with teenagers can host a student. Far from it! In reality, our host families come in all shapes and sizes: couples, single parents, families with young kids, old kids, no kids, you name it! What all … Continue reading
For this week’s Thank You Thursday, Syed from Bangladesh is sharing is favorite memory with his American host family so far! Syed is studying in Utah with the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. My favourite exchange experience was when I celebrated my first ever Christmas with my host family. We … Continue reading
At Aspect, February is “Share the Love” month! Is there a better way to share the love between our students and their host families than by bringing everybody together for a Valentine’s party? We don’t think so! Aspect host mom and International Coordinator (IC), Tonya from Texas, says: “It was actually my exchange daughter Pien’s … Continue reading
For this week’s Thank You Thursday, Olya from Ukraine shares her experience of studying in Washington State with the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program sponsored by the Department of State. When submitting her story, Olya added: “I am not going to lie, even this small article made me sad, because of overwhelming thoughts about going back … Continue reading
Have you ever wondered what an International Coordinator (IC) does throughout the year? Our local coordinators are the primary point of contact for our students and host families. They check in with each of their students and families at least once a month, they may offer non-mandatory get togethers but they also bring their students … Continue reading
For this week’s Thank You Thursday, Kanako from Japan reminds us that when our students return to their home countries at the end of their American experience, it is not “goodbye” – it’s “see you later”! Kanako spent the 20/21 school year in Utah and even though she’s been back home in Japan since last … Continue reading
For this week’s Thank You Thursday, Kiril from Moldova expresses his gratitude for everything his host family has been giving and doing for him since he became part of their family last August. Kiril is studying in Texas with the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program sponsored by the Department of State and staying with the Gibbs … Continue reading
Today we shine the spotlight on Zainab from Pakistan! She is studying in Wisconsin with the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Read on to hear more about Zainab’s favorite experiences with her host family, her friends and at school as well as what her exchange experience has taught her so … Continue reading