Saturday, February 9, 2013

Foreign Exchange Students

Amanda Mandachit with AYA (Academic Year in America) brought 3 German students out to our recent Magazine Club Meeting. AYA is sponsored by the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS) Foundation,  a not-for-profit organization founded in 1967 with the assistance of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Its mission is to promote worldwide understanding through cultural exchange. The 3 students are living with families in Lincoln, NE and attending High School. They are all 16 years old and are taking classes with the 11th grade, Juniors. All 3 spoke excellent English which some had been studying since 3rd grade. They all had delightful personalities and it was obvious they could blend in very easily with young people here; even serve as excellent role models.  Amanda told of the detailed process involved in matching students with homes here in the Lincoln area. They have a very high success rate with the biggest difficulty being when the host family has to part with the student. It is surprising home many of them bring their families back to visit. It is a win-win program. 

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