Q & A
We have many ways to answer your questions:
1. Contact our National Office by email at india@afs.org.
2. On this site use our bulletin boards, where an AFS Advisor will respond to your specific questions.
3. We can connect you by email with students or persons who have already gone abroad or know very well the program.–they once had the same questions and concerns as you and can give you good answers and advice.
Q: How can I study abroad if I don’t have much foreign language experience?
A: Many AFS Participants start with little or no host country language experience, but they quickly learn to communicate at a basic level. Each day gets better and by the end of their year or semester abroad, many AFS Participants are fluent in their host country’s language. There is no better way to learn a language than by speaking it 24/7! Many AFS programs also offer language instruction to start you off on the right foot.
Q: How does AFS provide for my safety and security overseas?
A: AFS is an experienced, worldwide leader in student exchange that has an unparalleled safety record for more than 58 years. Our primary concern is for the welfare, safety, and security of our student participants. AFS has a professional network of experienced staff and volunteers who provide support in every program country. An AFS situation response management team is in place at all times to monitor events throughout the world and respond in case of crisis. While some AFS programs are curtailed at particular times, AFS has run programs throughout the world, without interruption, since it was founded in 1947.
Q: What can I expect when I get to my host country?
A: You’ll participate in an arrival orientation to introduce you to your new country, as well as to other AFS Participants. You’ll meet your host family who will provide you with your housing, food, and the same care they give their own children. AFS Host Families do not receive monetary compensation. Since this is a new family, language, and culture, there are some adjustments you will have to make. However, you’ll have the support of local AFS Staff and Volunteers, and you’ll learn how to take care of yourself pretty quickly.
Q: Is there anything I won’t be able to do abroad?
A: Yes. AFS has three rules that all participants must agree to:
● No illegal drugs ● No driving ● No hitchhiking
All participants must be law-abiding in their host country. There may be country-specific rules that apply. There also are limits on traveling independently. In a new environment, it’s important to be more aware than you might be at home. And remember: you are a student ambassador for India, so it will be important to act respectfully toward others and to give extra attention to being culturally aware.
Q: Will I be in a big city or a small village?
A: Most students are hosted in small-to medium-sized towns or villages. Families in big cities often live in small apartments, so they don’t have a lot of room for guests. Also, outside the major cities you get a better feel for what a country is really like.
Q: Does AFS provide spending money?
A: No. However, AFS provides suggestions on how much money you should bring. Your AFS program fee covers meals, housing, international air fare, travel to your host family when you arrive in your host country, and more. Check out the What Your Tuition Covers.
Q: I’m insured by my family’s medical plan. Why do I need secondary medical coverage?
A: It is part of our commitment to your safety and welfare. This additional coverage ensures that, in an emergency, you can be treated as soon as possible, anywhere in the world. This secondary medical coverage is a prerequisite for your participation.
Q: I’ve never really traveled. Will I be able to fit in with people my age in another country?
A: This is a common concern of participants. The simple answer is yes, you’ll fit in fine–and we’ll help you out too. This site lets you chat with AFS Returnees about their experiences abroad or with other students getting ready to go abroad. Our website also contains Culture Trek, a resource to help you prepare. Your initial orientation before you travel will also help to prepare you for your study abroad experience.
Q: This is such a big step. How do I talk to my parents about it?
A: The decision to study and live abroad takes a lot of thought. Your parents are bound to have a lot of questions. They’ll want to know about AFS, how serious you are about the program, where you want to go, what you’ll do there, and especially what you hope to gain from the experience. We can help with some of those questions, and we can also put them in touch with other parents whose children have studied abroad with AFS.
