The AFS Exchange

AFS-USA's Mission- It's More Important Now Than Ever!

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Jenny Kissinger Messner, an AFS alumna who believes that our mission is more important now than ever. Her journey from student to major donor shows the lifelong impact of student exchange. We'll hear about her transformative year abroad in Brazil in 1970, how that experience shaped her life and family, and why she is so passionate about supporting the next generation of global citizens.

This August, Double Your Impact!

Thanks to the extraordinary generosity...

Follow along with Michael, a first-time host dad, as he recounts his year hosting an exchange student from Germany. From the initial decision to host and the anticipation leading up to his student's arrival, to how Michael's daily routine shifted, you'll hear how opening his home led him to become much more involved in his local New Jersey community and learning more about himself.

You'll also discover how Michael and his husband Allen got to dive deep into the cultures and customs of Germany and Morocco, as their host son has a parent from each country. Plus...

In July 2023, eleven strangers met for the first time in an airport hotel lobby outside JFK. Just three weeks later, they had lived a lifetime of adventures.

In this episode, we're taking you to Kenya for a three-week Global Prep program focused on wildlife conservation and Maasai culture. But as this group of U.S. students journeyed across the country, they found something more: an unexpected bond that transformed them from strangers into a tight-knit group.

We’ll hear from three participants and their Program Leader about the highs and lows of their experience. From ic...

Studying abroad is an incredible adventure, but it can sometimes feel a little isolating. So, how do you actually find your community when you're miles from home? This month, we explore various ways AFSers have connected beyond the classroom.

We hear from Megan, Eva, and Esha, who share their personal stories of finding community, including in some unexpected places. From a German class in Paraguay to a community theater group in Germany, their experiences highlight the importance of putting yourself out there, even if it feels a little strange. This could mean finding a favorite activity in...

Welcome back to The AFS Exchange for the second part of our Founders' Day celebration! After covering the "when" and "what" of AFS's start in WWI in our last episode, we're now diving into the "who"- the people who were there, the early volunteer drivers. 

Join us as we talk with historian Thomas Fife and get a glimpse into the lives of four of these individuals, uncovering some truly unexpected connections and poignant moments. 

We'll also hear about Thomas's own journey into this history, which began with a random trunk he bought in Ohio an...

For this year's AFS Founders' Day, observed on April 7th, we delve into the remarkable origins of the organization during World War I. This episode recounts the story of the American Field Service, where young American volunteers courageously served as ambulance drivers, years before the US even officially entered the war.

The journey from those early days to the AFS we know now is filled with wealthy socialites, treacherous drives, at least one unpleasant breakup, and the raw determination of young men facing unimaginable circumstances. In this episode, in conversation with historian Thomas Fife, we will cover...

Season 5 kicks off with stories of self-discovery through American school activities. Ayya from Indonesia explores theater, Sama from Egypt embarks on a creative journey, and Danisa from South Africa takes on cheerleading. From coast to coast, these students embrace new challenges, build skills, and form lasting relationships. Their experiences highlight the profound impact of international exchange. Tune in to discover how AFS-USA students find themselves through new pursuits.

Guests:
Ayya
Sama
Danisa

More from AFS-USA: 🏠Host a Student | ✈️Study Abroad | 🤝Volunteer | 🏫For Educators | 📧Contact the Show

In this Season 4 finale, we celebrate the powerful connections formed between host families and exchange students.

Hear inspiring stories from past episodes: Jutta learns about Senegalese culture from her host daughter, Diarra; Justin and Chad reflect on the positive impact hosting has had on their son; Kakeru, inspired by his own host mom, hopes to pass his positive experience along and become a host parent himself; and Keith and Doug share the heartwarming welcome they received from their host son's family in Denmark.

We'll also meet Naveenaa, a current YES Program student from India, who's...

Join me at the 2024 AFS-USA Summit in Dallas, Texas- a weekend packed with connection, inspiration, and a few unexpected surprises. This year’s theme, Connecting Communities, Changing Lives, brought together volunteers, host families, and staff from across the country to share ideas, celebrate accomplishments, and recharge around the AFS mission. 

From the buzzing Marketplace and heartwarming awards ceremony to insightful sessions and a lively line-dance lesson, the weekend was unforgettable. You’ll hear from award-winning volunteers, learn what fuels their passion for AFS, and catch some fun behind-the-scenes moments- like a surprise reunion and how a random fligh...

In this episode, we hear from four recent returnees who participated in AFS programs in France, Japan, Spain, and the Czech Republic. We begin with a deeper conversation with Selina, who spent a transformative summer in France with AFS after feeling the need for a change following the isolation of the COVID lockdown. Her experience abroad motivated her to continue studying internationally, leading her to finish high school in Costa Rica.

After Selina’s story, we hear from three scholarship recipients- Morgan, Dahlia, and Emmett- who share their own inspiring experiences studying in Japan, Spain, and Czech Re...

Ever wondered what it's like to have a new brother every year? Justin and Chad, a couple from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, can tell you! They've been hosting AFS students for years, and their 3-year-old son, Everett, has grown up with a global family.

In this episode, they share stories about the impact of hosting on their lives and the lasting bonds they've formed with their international sons, and Everett's brothers. Hear how their family has been introduced to new cultures, experiences, and even the challenges of raising a teenager, years before Everett will become one. While there have...

“And that kind of moment of breakthrough has been helping me for the rest of my life, right? Whenever I face any difficulty or struggles, I know there's a way to break through by my own efforts. And there are things that I can control.”

In this episode, we’re going to talk about the power of turning things around- pushing through difficult experiences, realizing when you’re low, and pulling yourself out of the darkness. For Kakeru from Japan, that turning point came when he was studying in California with AFS in 2004-2005.

Now, 20 years la...

Keith and Doug Byron, a couple from Indiana, welcomed a Danish student into their home in 2022-2023. In this episode, the two of them discuss their initial motivations for hosting, their Danish host son's deep dive into American culture, their family's love of music and video games, and the rewarding connections made with both their student and the community. 

This might sound like a typical conversation with host parents- and honestly, it is! The fact that Keith and Doug are a same-sex couple really doesn't matter- AFS-USA knows that all types of families can provide a welcoming, c...

In this episode of The AFS Exchange, we share the incredible story of Reed Davis and Ketsi Meka, two friends separated by continents and decades. Ketsi, from South Africa, lived with Reed’s family in Iowa during 1982-83. After Ketsi returned to Apartheid South Africa, they lost touch despite Reed’s repeated efforts to reconnect.

Thirty years later, Reed headed to South Africa for work and ramped up his search for Ketsi. Spoiler alert: they finally reconnect and reflect on the years since Ketsi’s time in Iowa, leading to a creative project together.

Join us to...

AFS students bring a lot to their new families and homes. But what about when they also bring the sibling experience for the first time?

In this episode, we delve into the stories of only children who suddenly found themselves with siblings overnight! Parker from Massachusetts and Reese from New York grew up as only children, but in recent years, their families have embraced hosting AFS students, adding brothers and sisters from around the globe to their lives.

By welcoming AFS students, families not only offer their child a glimpse of life beyond the United...

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month at AFS-USA, and we're thrilled to present a special bonus episode dedicated to expressing our gratitude to our incredible AFS volunteers! They truly are the heart of our organization. In this episode, AFS-USA staff have shared heartfelt voice memos, offering shout outs to individual volunteers, teams, advisory groups, and expressing general messages of thanks.

Tune in to this special bonus episode to experience the warmth and appreciation our staff has for the volunteers who make AFS's mission a reality. Are you interested in becoming an AFS-USA volunteer? Visit afsusa.org/volunteer to...

Katherine, a young AFS-USA volunteer from California, is deeply passionate about activism. In 2023, she engaged in AFS-USA’s Youth Ambassador Sustainability Project, a 7-week online leadership course for emerging leaders. During this program, she established a partnership with the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, California. Katherine shares practical advice for aspiring changemakers eager to embark on their own journey toward effecting change.

In this episode, we delve into global perspectives and explore Taiwan. Katherine also took part in the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program in Taipei duri...

March is host family appreciation month at AFS-USA - a huge shoutout to all AFS host families! This month, we're excited to share an interview featuring a host mother-daughter pair from Washington: Jutta and Diarra.

Diarra from Senegal is having a truly culture-rich year in Seattle with the Mackensen-von Stieglitz family, who moved from Germany to the U.S. about 20 years ago. Alongside trying out new activities like ice skating, bowling, and indulging in breakfast burritos, Diarra is learning about German culture and some words of the language.

In this episode we hear about Diarra’s...

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.

Season 4 will be launching soon! Until then, check out...

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...

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...

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...

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 diverse 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...

Before Dr. Rich 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 a...

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...

“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 an AFS staff member. Tommaso fro...

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 that empowers women living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. After 22 years, mothers2mothers has created nearly 12,000 jobs for women living with HIV and reached more than 15 million people with critical health services.

Check...

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...

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 h...

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...

AFS-USA aims to empower high school students with essential global skills and a passion for creating positive change. Through the Global Citizen Scholarships and Aid program, they are committed to supporting students from all backgrounds.

AFS-USA partners with Community-based Organizations (CBOs), family foundations, individual donors, AFS-USA alums, and others to make Global Citizen Scholarships and Aid possible.

This episode includes interviews with volunteers and staff who work with two CBOs: The Dean’s Future Scholars Program in Reno, Nevada and the QUEST Scholarship Fund in St. Louis, Missouri. We will learn how the opportunity to st...

In honor of International Education week, The AFS Exchange brings you conversations with the awardees of AFS-USA’s 2022 Global Awards! These awardees were recognized earlier this year for their commitment to helping the next generation achieve global and intercultural competence. 

We hear from Global Educator Award winner Josh Amstuz from Cleveland, Ohio about how he became interested in international education after a trip to Madrid with his father. We learn more about project-based learning and his role at the Academy of Global Studies at Winton Woods High School.

The winner of the Global School Award was...

Jim Kiernan’s AFS experience in Germany in 1961 was an eye-opener. He had never left the northeast United States, but after just a summer in Germany he returned home with a strong desire to learn more about the world and, in his words, “live more.” 

In this episode, we hear about Jim’s AFS experience, his Fulbright program in Brazil, and his extensive professional career with the international law firm Debevoise & Plimpton. After a few years in New York, Jim moved to France to help build up the firm’s European practice. Jim is now retired and splits his...

This episode focused on the impact of AFS on one family in particular- Dana, Camille, Ricardo, and Yasemin. Dana’s mother, Camille, hosted Ricardo from Brazil in 1974.

A few years later, Dana went to Turkey with AFS-USA. Yasemin was her host sister, and despite having no common language at the time, they two quickly became friends and found other ways to communicate. 

We all got together to hear about the role AFS has played in their lives and the relationships they still share. In AFS’s 75 year history, the impact that AFS has had on the l...

After Dave Schrader’s summer in Austria with AFS, he returned back to the US eager to help future exchange students through their programs. He has led orientations for hundreds of departing US students and incoming international students over the years. In this episode, we learn more about these orientations and why they are so important to ensure that students have a great program. Dave also shares about his experience in Austria, and the long relationship he continues to have with his host family. 

In honor of AFS’s 75th anniversary, The AFS Exchange is releasing 4 episodes this...

6 years ago, Fen left Bangkok, Thailand to begin his AFS year outside of Houston, Texas. In this episode, Fen shares his insights on his exchange year with 6 years’ worth of distance. He shares the skills he took away from his time in the US, and we hear his advice for future exchange students.

In honor of AFS’s 75th anniversary, The AFS Exchange is releasing 4 episodes this month! That’s 4 times the stories of the impact AFS has had over the years.

Guest: Fen Namwat 

More from AFS-USA: 🏠Host a Student | ✈️Study Abroad...

The first time that Linda took an airplane was at age 17, heading to her AFS Program in Paraguay. Growing up in small town Missouri, she was surprised her parents even let her go! But years later, her valuable experiences in Paraguay have continued to have an impact on her life and those around her. AFS’s goal? To build global citizens who can Pass Peace Forward, creating a more just and peaceful world. That’s the #AFSEffect. 

Guest: Linda Shepard Salzer

More from AFS-USA: 🏠Host a Student | ✈️Study Abroad | 🤝Volunteer | 🏫For Educators | 📧Contact the Show

In this episode we hear from three of the 1000+ students that AFS-USA welcomed for the 2021-22 school year. 

Samira from Germany, Toby from Sweden, and Mira from Austria share about their host families, schools, and what life is like for a teenager in the U.S. These three teenagers have gained confidence, maturity, and problem-solving skills during their AFS program. 

They have also become cultural ambassadors, sharing their home culture with their communities in the U.S. And once they’re back home? They will be Passing Peace Forward, spreading messages of intercultural understanding across typi...

What does it mean to be an AFS Host Parent? It’s more than providing a bed and meals. As an AFS Host Family, you’ll welcome someone new into your home, share your everyday lives with them, and grow as you get to know each other and share your cultural perspectives. You’ll be surprised at how much you learn about yourself, your family, and community.

This episode includes three great conversations with host parents in the D.C. and Dallas metro areas. Listen to learn more about their motivations and expectations, and how bringing students into t...

Welcoming exchange students into your classroom can benefit the entire school community! In this episode we hear from AFS students in Indiana and Washington. They discuss their experiences as US high school students: activities they’ve been involved in, how things are different from home, and the positive impact of supportive teachers.
 
We also get the perspective of the teachers who work with these students. How have AFS students shared their culture and unique perspective in school, providing learning opportunities for their peers?

Guests: 
Medyen, Abbas, Mark Liepe, Brandi Asher (East Noble High School, Kend...