Living in another country is an extraordinary way to increase personal learning experience. It can help someone become fluent in more than one language, teach one about a new culture, “try on” its lifestyle, introduce them to people that will be lifelong friends, and open up countless other opportunities. If students are learning that country’s native language, the student’s language skills will undoubtedly increase, and they will improve the accents and vocabulary that are necessary to being fluent in the language. Although many students choose not to travel abroad because of homesickness, or family reasons, the ones that did usually have great experiences and meet many people that are still close friends to this day.

      One of the most important components of being a foreign exchange student is joining a new family. When someone is a foreign exchange student, a family will host them in their house. The exchange student spends a lot of time with the foster family, which often includes a kid who is within several years of the visitor’s age. These foster siblings often develop close relationships with their exchange student. Jack Bulk ’16 who lived in France last year through School Year Abroad stated, “My host family was fantastic. I had three older brothers. We went on weekend trips to the beach and went hiking. They were very accepting and kind.” Clearly, strong communities have a lot to offer foreign exchange students by making them feel welcome in the host family.

      Foreign exchange students help other students learn more about the world. A host of an exchange student said, “My family hosted exchange students several times during my high school years. These experiences supplemented my education and through this process of cultural learning and sharing, helped me gain a more international perspective.” This shows how much of an impact exchange students have on the host families.

     Exchange students also get to make friends in new countries, and since they are with these friends for a limited time, they want to hang out with them as much as possible. Simon Wakeley ’19 made a friend in Costa Rica who he visited a year after living there, and the Costa Rican visited Simon’s family in the U.S. as well. Since they are far from familiar places and surroundings and do not have relatives to depend on for company, friendships become stronger overseas. Nothing is more important than friends and family, so creating new friendships all over the world is very rewarding.

      Overall, being a foreign exchange student offers a unique experience to see the world through another cultural setting. Lucy Knudsen ’19, who spent a year in Ecuador, described the way that Ecuadorians celebrate the New Year, “You create an effigy of the old year (it’s basically a scarecrow) and burn it. Then you jump over it three times, but we do it more because it’s fun. Also, someone writes a note from the old year saying what it leaves for each person. To them, the traditions are really important, but we kind of just do it because it’s fun.”

Living abroad is an opportunity to make lasting friendships and to expand general understanding of language and culture and how other people live.