_”The AFS experience never ends. I am proud to be one of the first Indian students to go on an exchange program under the auspices of AFS. This experience has changed my life.
Murtaza Mustansir, Current student Italy
Dear all,
As I’ve written this email from my iPod..I haveincluded everything inside this email and I haven't attached a file..
EXCHANGE WEEK..! What is an exchange week? it's athing organized by all the local chapters of Italy in which an exchangestudent(in Italy) decides to choose a part or a city of Italy he/she wants tovisit and they send him/her there for a week in an another host family..! Thisis a wonderful thing..! It helps both at a time,the host family and thestudent.
How does it help them?
1) some host parents have fear that how thereexperience would be with a foreign student for 1year..so they host for a weekand so they get an idea and they decide whether they should host for a year ornot!
2) if an exchange students host family is not ableto show him any part of a country ..This exchange week helps this student tosee at least one part of that country and he also gets to see different monuments,gets to eat different food specialty and gets to know the different traditionof that part of the country!
My exchange week was from 12th march till 20thmarch..! I went to south Italyon an island called Sicily.The volunteers of that local chapter were really nice and sympathetic! I didn'thave a host family. I was being hosted by Gianluca Immordino he was single andhad girl friend staying with him..! He was really nice to me and made me enjoya lot..
Murtuza with his host brother and neighbor.
Murtuza with other visiting Greek Temple
Nirali Macchar, AFS Returnee- Ahmedabad
_”Participating in AFS exchange program has really helped me in over all development. It was an amazing and unforgettable year. I had blast with my host family and friends. I only didn’t get to meet new people, but I did take something from them and I left some of myself there.”
Aadil Fahim, AFS Returnee- Delhi
_”While I was on exchange, somebody once said its a cultural exchange program, not a cultural change program and that’s what kept driving me to educate more people about our country India, nonetheless it was the best experience ever and I really had time of my life.”
Hardeep Kalra, AFS Returnee- Delhi
_”The experience was great and i would say it was quite insightful as well. The interaction with other students from different countries was really nice and within two weeks I made a lot of friends. The host family experience was fun and i really bonded with my family. Trying out the food from octopus’ to squids was an experience of its own. I have been a student of the Japanese language and was very curious about knowing their culture and history and i was impressed with it. I have learned a lot from the japanese and have tried to inculcate their way of behavior and lifestyles. I enjoyed sharing about the indian culture.This trip was indeed a rollercoaster ride.”
Aditya Shekhar, Jenesys Returnee-
_”The December of 2008 I attended the JENESYS (JAPAN EAST NETWORK OF EXCHANGE OF STUDENTS AND YOUTHS) PROGRAMME 2008 ORGANISED BY AFS (AMERICAN FIELD SERVICES) AND THE JAPAN GOVERNMENT. JENESYS was spectacular and a big eye opener to all. JENESYS shows us a lot of culture of Japan in a very short period which is impossible to be gained otherwise. JENESYS has given us an insight into Japan’s historical places, religion, family life, school life and its beautiful mix of life. JENESYS HAS BEEN A VERY VALUABLE ASSET TO ALL AND I HOPE THIS PROGRAMME SHALL CONTINUE IT THE FUTURE.”
HARSHIL R BELUR, Returnee- Banglore
_”For me the most enriching experience was not only integrating myself in the US but to also broad my view of other nations ranging from Ghana to Brasil. I have really enjoyed cultivating these relations with such a vast variety of people.”
Rujuta Patil, AFS Returnee - Pune
_”I went to USA on the Yes Scholarship and that entire year was like a dream come true. My host family, the Hynes was very nice and caring. I did adventurous things like skiing, rafting, ice skating and also game presentations on Indian culture. This stay in the US itself is the most rewarding experience.”
Tanvee Shevade, AFS Returnee - Pune
_”The whole year as an exchange student in USA was the best experience with AFS as it has changed my life completely.”
Isha Ingalgaonkar, AFS Returnee - Pune
_”The whole of my exchange year in Norway my personality got a lot of good feathers in its cap. I became independent began to have my own opinions view towards life changed a lot plus I got to learn a foreign language.”
Shraddha Bahirat, AFS Returnee - Pune
_”The most rewarding experience with AFS is that it made me more confident about myself. Because before I always needed some one while taking any decisions.”
Shreyansh Kankaria, AFS Returnee - Pune
_”This was too a life changing experience. Getting to know the Japanese was great. By my experience Japanese people are one of the most loving and caring people….in the world…
i really respect them a lot and their organization skills…...
I thank all who contributed towards the program.”
Sarang Rao, Jenesys Returnee-
_”The AFS experience in USA was very unique & cant forget it for sure. But the main thing I learnt is, when we came back & started volunteering & learning new things about developing AFS India by helping other students to have the same experience as we had.”
