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1. • CommentAuthorMary Harson
   • CommentTimeFeb 21st 2010 edited

    

   I still have a few years until i go on my exchange and  i was wondering something. Why choose AFS over other exchange programs such YFU, Rotary, or ASSE. Also, why should i choose AFS?, What are some the pros and cons about AFS? I would really appreciate any answers even if i do have a while to choose.

   -Mary H., a future exchange student. :)

2. • CommentAuthorMary Harson
   • CommentTimeFeb 25th 2010

    

   UGGG! this is so hard. I really want to go to FInland my sophmore year but i won't be 15 and 8 months. Other than that what are some of the pros and con of AFS? Should i choose AFS? soooo many questions.

   -Mary H., future exchange student

3. • CommentAuthoralexthegreat
   • CommentTimeMar 14th 2010

    
   I don't know about other programs, but compared to Rotary I know AFS can be a bit more expensive. Rotary also has you switch host families so you have at least 3 in one year, sometimes more. With AFS you keep the same family throughout your entire stay, unless, of course, problems arise or there are other special circumstances. You might want to Google the Cultures Shocked forums. They're a lot more active and you could get a lot of information about various programs from all the returnees or the people planning on going soon.
4. • CommentAuthorxoromance@gmail.com
   • CommentTimeMar 20th 2010

    

   While AFS tries to maintain one family, there are plenty of horror stories that occur.  The volunteer directors not checking out the hosting homes properly, or checking out the entire family's background.  Or even the student not disclosing all information on their application, such as smoking, alcoholism, drugs abuse or family suicide and depression or all of the above in our case.  These things are critical when selecting your exchange student. 

   AFS is supposed to assist in these matters but when we dealt with the local AFS director, all that took place was accusations and blame rather than mediate the situation.  While the student we received started out nice with their "Date" face, they soon showed their true colors and became out of control.  On top of that, the student posted derrogatory comments on facebook and in their own country making efforts to affect how peers treat the host family's children to deal with any backlash from school friends. 

   In any situation there are pros and cons.  The first sign should be when dealing with the local director, find out what type of personality you are dealing with.   Are they petty, gossipers? Do they act like they are doing teh world a favor when they speak about negative situations?  Ask about scenarios. It's not bad changing  families, because visitors can definitely overstay their welcome and ultimately abuse the guest home's kindness.

   Couple of tips - be neat and clean about your accomodations. Leaving wet towels and smelly dirty clothes on carpets and bedding is not considerate.  Keep the bathroom neat and clean. If you want to invite friends over, act like it's your home and don't let your friends trash the place.  And don't take almost an hour long showers unless you offer to pay for such luxuries. 

   Best of luck in your cultural exchange!

    

    

    

5. • CommentAuthorjenn0708
   • CommentTimeMay 19th 2010

    

   Hey,

   This is a hard question and I guess it really depends on the country you are going to, you yourself and what you are looking for in an exchange. Before I get into the pros and cons (my view point) you should know I am biased. I went to Italy in 2007 and 2008 with AFS and loved it. I volunteer with AFS now and I am such an addict I am going on exchange again this year to Finland. So with that in mind.

   The reasons I choose AFS was because for my program in 07-08 it was the cheapest and offered the best aide. I don't know how it compares on the market now but keep in mind your tution covers a lot of stuff like international airline tickets ( which some exchanges make you pay for can cost USD 2,000-4,000), health insurance (which is usually required for travel outside of the United States for visa purposes and can be between USD 600-1000 from companies) ISIC cards which help you get really great discounts on trains, target stuff, planes, buses, and other stuff (USD 25-45) as well as paying for a bunch of AFS activities. Here is the reason I really recommend AFS to high school students. Exhange is HARD but AFS helps so much. Of course this depends on your country. Before you even leave you have so many resources this forum, web seminars, blogs, calls from returnees and handbooks. Most of this is provided by volunteers, that's right we don't get paid to help you out. We do this because we love to do it. When you get abroad most of the people you interact with in AFS are volunteers as well. They are there for you because they want to be, not for any other reason. Of course it is good to remember that most of them are college students, parents or other busy people. They try and usually are available for you all the time to help you get through those hard times but they do have their own lives and sometimes they take a while to go through the politics and get a solution that you are happy with. Don't let that discourage you a big part of going on exchange is growing up and learning to handle your problems without so much assistance! Of course it is really nice to have AFS volunteers around to organize events and trips so you can meet other exchange students, see the country and learn about historical and cultural things you may not have known otherwise. I met my best friend through AFS at an event and I am going to live with her in 98 day! AFS Italy organized great events like pizza nights, trips to Naples, trips to the beach and nights out dancing or getting a late night snack. My volunteer and I still talk to each other on the phone once a month and visit eachother whenever we can even though we live across the world. I know that AFS Finland also does events like trips to Helsinki, camping trips and projects to help you along and get you out and about. I know this because my best friend who I met in AFS is also a volunteer and lives in Finland. Host families are special. Let's just say that we as people do not always get along with everyone and there can be problems with your host family. AFS tries really hard to place you with people that you will get along with but this doesn't always happen. It is hard to find families, think how hard it would be to take someone new and foreign into your home? However volunteers try their best and when situations arise it is important to remember that when a new family is found they need to be checked out and approved before a student can move. Of course when you are on exchange you change a lot. You can do things you wouldn't normally do at home and things you may have ommitted or not have done when you filled out your application. I changed host families because issues arose between me and my family that are not to be blamed on anyone we just simply didn't match. When I was there I was upset about the change and how long it took to find a new family but now I know why that was and I tell everyone that it is important to see both sides of the story. However for every bad story there are 20 good ones. You should also know that people write stories about their bad experience when they are mad and upset, while as people who love their exchange don't have time to write. We all say things when we are intially upset that we later analyze and change. The last thing is orientation! Orientations can be boring but so helpful. When you go through exchange you remember that what you are feeling is not just your feelings because you learned about it at orientation. Orientations often happen 3 to 4 times a year and help you keep in touch with other AFSers and your volunteers and paid employees. Plus you get two before you leave,which are really helpful once you get there.

   So in summary pros

   Cost-reasonable for all that it includes check it out online!

   Volunteers- people who aren't paid to help you, doing things for you because they geniually care about exchange and you

   Host Families- are not paid and really want to learn about a new culture and show you theirs

   Orientations- a way to meet other students, share your concerns, talk about your fears and awesome adventures

   Okay so every program has some cons. I can tell you that ages are set for several reasons. One is that visa paperwork and insurance can be really hard or impossible to get for younger people because of government regulations. Also sometimes people of certain ages aren't prepared to go abroad of course you can be unprepared at the age of 20. But it is different when you are 15 than 20 because now someone else is responsible for your well being. I know it can seem really horrible to wait another year, trust me, and sometimes it is impossible to wait because of school or aide (in this case you should look for other options). The 15.8 and other weird .xx things are usually for visa and responsibility of AFS insurance and medical insurance reasons. Sometimes it can be hard to get in contact with AFS's main office when you are abroad but if you really need to for some reason that is really really extreme, just hold on and keep trying or call your host country contacts. AFS has a system set up, and at times you may want to break the chain of command but you shouldn't it can confuse everyone. AFS has rules. This is a con. As a college exchange student you will find only local laws are your rules. But AFS wants to make sure that you are safe abroad and rules are the only way to do that. A lot of american's were sent home the year I went abroad for breaking the rules, it is a con if you want to drive, do drugs or hitchke. But if you don't then you are probably okay, just be aware of no-tolerance rules sometimes. When you go to the doctor you have to pay up front and that can be really hard but you get reimbursed later. Also you may have to pay for transportation i.e. the bus, books for school or some other small things upfront and wait to be reimbursed.

   So in summary cons

   Age Limits- set for reasons that are beyond anyones control and also maturity

   Contacts- sometimes hard to get USA on the line from a foreign country but there is always someone in your host country to help you out

   Reimbursement- sometimes you have to pay for things you didn't budget in and then get reimbursed like books, doctor's visits, bus tickets

    

   OKAY- so there you have my pros and cons list. If you want to get in contact with me you can do that! I hope you have good luck and choose to go abroad. It is really an amazing experience. Even if you don't choose AFS you should still go abroad! You will be amazed at how much you learn and grow and how many international and lifelong friends and contacts you make. You can make any program what you want it to be with your attitude and courage. Being exchange students means you are amazingly strong willed and courageous, it takes a lot of work, fun and dedication to study abroad. I wish you the best of luck.

   If you want any information about AFS Italy I can give you my email or the email/facebook of volunteers I know there! They would love to talk to you. Also I know a Finnish AFS Volunteer and I can give you her info so you can ask her questions about AFS in Finland. Doing research and talking to people is the best way to choose a program so good job! ;)

    

   Best of Luck

   Jenn (jnm69@nau.edu)