Feedback from AYA Students

"So what's a year in Texas all about? It is not only football, basketball, marshmallows, tacos, longhorns, highways, cowboys, pizza and high school, but it's also about getting a second family and making lifelong friends. I always wanted to have older brothers. We have fun, borrow shirts, tapes and get socks mixed up in the laundry."
Simone (Germany), Texas

"I enjoyed school, my host family, my friends and I look forward to many new experiences in America."
Kanya (Thailand), Maine

"This country is wonderful and I love the USA!"
Daniela (Brazil), North Carolina

"I'm glad that I came to the USA as an exchange student. I love my year. I have wonderful host parents and two adorable little host brothers. It's great to be a member of this family. I'm happy that they took me as their exchange student. Thank you Brummel Family! But I also want to thank my mum and dad in Germany for making this experience possible. My dream came true!"
Agnes (Germany), Minnesota

"I had heard so much about America. Hollywood’s influence overseas is bigger than many Americans realize. I grew up watching movies about “the land of opportunities” and I was fascinated by the western cities of blinding lights. Life seemed to have a different rhythm there, more vitality. When I came to the United States as an exchange student, I certainly didn’t imagine that the place I would find would be so different from the one I had built in my imagination." Read the rest of Rea's essay...
Rea (Albania), Kansas

Click here to read more of Rea’s story!

2003-2004 Host Family of the Year Student Essay Competition (Extracts)

These are just a few of the many heartwarming quotes we received from our students. On behalf of the entire staff at AYA, we would like to thank all the wonderful host families for the love and support they have given our students throughout the year. By opening their home with welcoming hearts, they have made our world a friendlier place and have fulfilled the dream of a lifetime to our students. For these reasons and many more, we call you all our “Host Families of the Year!”

	"Through my mistakes I learned how to value more your own time and somebody’s time, here life going so fast, interesting. This year was big step to improve myself to become better person and better tennis player. I cannot tell everything what I learned from my host family starting from telling them “jume” instead of gum and talking about chores at home and be more kind, helpful person to society. I know it is a lot of different host families but only a few of them are good at hosting and representing the US. My host family is one of these families that broke our stereotypes about our cultural and political differences. I had a wonderful year because I was able to communicate with my host family who wanted to hear me, support me, and with them I learned hundreds of things which will help me in my future career. They gave me a FAMILY and help during this difficult year and they gave me the best representation of the US." Larisa (FLEX student from Uzbekistan) Living with the Estelle family in Kansas HF of the Year Student Essay Winner
	"I’m really thankful what this family did for me and will do for other students in my position in the future." Franziska (Germany) Living with the Davern family
	"My host family became my family, that’s right, they are no more my host family, I found in them great parents, cool sister and brother. But how? Very easy, they gave me what my natural family gave me-love cozy home; I became a part of the family." Oleksandr (FLEX grant student) Living with the Palone family
	"When I arrived here, everything was just great! We already knew so much about each other because of all the e-mails we’ve been sending. It was a really familiar atmosphere and we had a lot of fun from the beginning on." Sebastian (Germany) Living with the Drake family
	"Some people think a family who is having big house, pretty room is the best host family, but I think it is totally wrong!! The best host family is who teach exchange students that true American culture, sharing and helping them to have great time in America." Do-Hee (South Korea) Living with the Murphy family
	"I probably share the closest relationship with my mom Michelle. We spend night after night talking about everything. She has always a good advice for me. When I need help with my English essay, Michelle will take the whole night to correct and improve it with me. I can talk to her whenever I need to and I am really thankful for that." Lena (Germany) Living with the Livingstone family
	"The (Christmas) gifts I held in my hand were nice and appreciated, but the greatest gift I received was the love and support of my host family. I cannot even say that they are my host family, but they are even more my own family." Dedi (YES grant student) Living with the Casten family
	"It has been one of the best years of my life, full with new things, friends, moments, sports, memories, great times, food, places, school, fun activities, and overall a WONDERFUL family, I couldn’t ask for more, they are all I needed to make it an amazing experience here living in America." Mariuxy (Ecuador) Living with the Wertman family