Returnee Reflections: Adrien, Finland
I’ve always been interested in foreign countries and how they do things differently, but there’s really nothing like actually going there and experiencing it for yourself. This is what I…
AFS Student
Returnee Reflections: June, Costa Rica
My desire for adventure and cultural immersion led me to head off on an AFS exchange year. I was particularly drawn to Costa Rica because of the beautiful landscapes, friendly…
Current Student Updates: Hugo, Germany
Guten Tag! It’s still so weird to think how it has been over seven months since that day I woke up on a fresh Auckland morning, looked out the window…
Returnee Reflections: Tui, France
Kia ora koutou and Bonjour à tous ! My name is Tui, and I have just recently returned from a year-long exchange in France! Long story short, it was the…
Current Student Updates: Elaena in Argentina
Read about our student Elaena’s highlights and learnings 6 weeks into her AFS experience in Crespo, Argentina! Hola! So far my exchange experience has been amazing with the people,…
Host Student Update: Jaime from Spain
My reflection as an AFS Student at Tarawera High School My name is Jaime from Spain. I’m an AFS student and I have spent term 3 at Tarawera High. This…
Current Student Updates: Adam in Peru
Kia Ora, Buenos Días and Hello, I’m Adam McPhail, a Kiwi and an AFS exchange student living in Chincha Alta, a small city in the south of Peru. I’ve now…
Current student updates: France
Tui sent us an update from France – read on to hear about school, skiing, and language challenges! Bonjour à tous!! This letter signifies the passing of a whole five…
Current Student Updates: Emma, Japan
At a pottery festival (fire festival) with my host family in May What’s it been like living with your host family? Right off the bat when I first…
Hosted Student Update: Lea from Switzerland
My Exchange year in New Zealand When we landed in New Zealand at 3 a.m. after a 22-hour flight, the world around me was still surrounded in darkness. In the…
Current student updates: Denmark
Our beautiful student Summer shared her reflections on the exchange so far with our scholarship team – amazing job, Summer! It is time for me to express my gratitude for…
MEXT Scholarship Recipient Jay reflects on a month in Japan
We asked our amazing 2023 MEXT scholarship student and volunteer Jay some questions about his time in Japan. Read on to find out about his favourite experiences, best advice, and…
2024 AFS Youth Assembly Global Educators scholarship winner
We are delighted to share that our alumna Bella Chisholm (NZ to Germany, 2011) has won a scholarship to participate in the Global Educators Academy Programme at the 2024 AFS…
1950s AFSers: Adrian Coleman and Ron Frew
ADRIAN COLEMAN, USA 1958-59: MISSING THE BUS At the expiration of the year our group of about 20 AFS students was to return to New Zealand by flying from Los…
Current student updates: Argentina
It’s so lovely hearing from our sending students! Here’s another update from a current student living in Argentina. Oliver Although my first weeks of being in Argentina were quite difficult,…
Current student updates: Brazil
Our current sending students are doing a wonderful job adapting to their new homes! Here are two letters from students in Brazil. Elspeth I have just recently returned from a…
Current student updates: Japan
We love getting news from our students overseas! Here are two letters from current students in Japan Kaelin, Japan Life in Tokyo is fast, everyone has a place to…
Sweet memories of Sweden
Kia Ora, My name is Gypsy-Rose Koteka and I travelled to Sweden for my exchange in 2019. Where do I start? I’m just a Cook Island, Māori girl from the…
A dream Denmark exchange cut short
Hine-au-rangi Campbell-Collie returned home to New Zealand in March 2020 when all AFS programmes were cancelled due to Covid-19. Covid-19 had the hugest impact on my exchange. By the time…
“Sheltering” in New Zealand
By Caio Carvalho (Brazil) When I arrived in New Zealand in the beginning of the year, I was full of expectations and dreams. All I wanted was to make good…