AFS-USA

I learned so much during my year abroad in Germany. I had a great host family and experience in Berlin. I made so many international friends and connections in Germany. It is an eye-opening experience that I believe everyone should partake in.

My year in Portugal was the best experience I have had in my life and also was the best year overall I've ever lived by far. I lived in a small city with a host mom and two brothers, which at first were just strangers but now feel like true family. I also went in without speaking any Portuguese at all, but after a few months I became fluent. Attending the local school where people didn't speak English helped me a lot, and my host mom supported my learning a lot as well. My mom was very sweet and shortly I started getting along a lot more with my brothers, especially the younger one. I also became friends with the kids at my school and now I consider them good friends of mine, and I plan to go back to Portugal this summer (one year later) to visit everyone. But the deepest friendships I made were with the other exchange students I met from other countries around the world who were having the same experience as me. These fellow students became my closest friends ever and I am so happy to have met them. My whole world view has changed and I now I can reflect on my life here at home and I am more grateful for what I have but am also able to realize what I might not like compared to how things are in Portugal, and I feel that these realizations have and will continue to help me build the future and life I want. Everyone with AFS supported me immensely and I would like to thank my contact volunteer especially for always being someone I could talk to and was always there for me. Thank you to AFS for giving me my life as I know it now, I would not be the person I am today if it wasn't for AFS. If you are considering doing an exchange year then just do it. I can seem scary at first but that's part of what makes it so meaningful. My exchange was a rollercoaster of emotions and I wouldnt have it any other way. Now I would do anything to go back to my life in Portugal and see the friends and family I made along the way.

I went abroad during my junior year of high school and had the time of my life! I was matched perfectly with my host family, and really enjoyed the city that I lived in. AFS was really great in matching me with a family that best supported my needs, and matched my personality best. I became fluent in the language and made several friends that I still talk to now, even after being back in my home country for over 6 months. I think this is such a unique study abroad experience because you see how Germans live their daily lives, and you become one of them. Although I had doubts and was scared at first, I wouldn't trade my experience for anything. If you are wondering about doing this program, I would 100% recommend you to!