“It’s for a Lifetime”: Frederick’s AYUSA Experience Studying Abroad

Frederick learned about study abroad programs in the way most students do these days: online. As he explains: 

“I saw people sharing their experience over video, how the high school life is, and how the classes are different, and how much better and more fun it is than German school. I was like, ‘Man, an exchange year sounds pretty awesome to me – let’s look into it.’”

Originally from Dresden, Germany, Frederick decided to take a leap: spending a year of high school in the United States. And, as most AYUSA participants find, it was a year shaped by friendships, family, and memories that won’t be fading any time soon.

Discovering a New Kind of High School Experience

For many international students, one of the biggest draws of a U.S. exchange year is the chance to experience American high school life firsthand. Frederick was no exception.

Like many exchange students, he quickly discovered that school in the U.S. felt different, not just academically, but socially. Classes, extracurriculars, and everyday interactions created opportunities to connect in ways that felt natural and welcoming.

Finding Community Through Sports and School Life

Frederick describes himself as “an athletic sports guy,” and this played a major role in helping him feel at home.

“I’m playing soccer and doing the ski team, which is where I found most of my friends” 

Sports are often a powerful bridge for exchange students. They create built-in communities, shared goals, and instant connections, regardless of language barriers or where a student comes from. For host families and schools, encouraging participation in activities like sports, clubs, or arts programs can make a huge difference in how quickly an exchange student settles in.

A Host Family That Felt Like Home

Ask many exchange students what the most special part of their year abroad was, and you’ll often hear the same answer: their host family.

Frederick’s experience reflects just how meaningful that relationship can be.

“From the day I came here, they were super welcoming, super nice to me. They gave me a really good home, they made me feel loved, and I hope I did the same.”

Being a host family is an incredible experience, and Frederick’s words are a great reminder of how impactful your generosity can be to a young, curious student as they explore a new culture. At AYUSA, hosting is all about being present, welcoming, and willing to include a student as part of everyday life during their academic year in America.

Far from over when the exchange year ended, Frederick’s relationship with his host family is diving into a new chapter. 

“They also talk to my parents at home, and get along well. They’re going to come and meet me this summer, actually. They’re going to come to Dresden and be like, ‘Hi, Frederick,’ and knock on my door.”

It’s incredible how strong the cross-cultural bonds can be between an exchange student and their host family. At AYUSA, we often see these full-circle relationships, where host families decide to visit their exchange students in their hometown. 

Frederick sums up this indescribable bond in just four words: “It’s for a lifetime.” 

AYUSA: Supporting Exchange Students and Host Families

Experiences like Frederick’s don’t happen by accident. They’re made possible through careful preparation, ongoing support, and strong relationships between students, families, schools, and AYUSA staff. It takes careful host family screening and student matching, on-the-ground support, and communication between students, families, and schools to make the study abroad experience memorable and rewarding for all involved. 

One Simple “Yes” Changes Multiple Lives

Frederick’s story highlights something many host families discover: hosting impacts your own family as much as the student you welcome into your home. What starts with shared meals, school events, and conversations often turns into inside jokes and traditions, before evolving into a beautiful, cross-cultural, lifelong connection. 

Our host families often visit their exchange students and keep in touch for years after hosting, sometimes coming together for major milestones like graduations or weddings. It’s incredible to discover where your hosting journey takes you! 

Thinking About Hosting an Exchange Student?

Listening to Frederick talk about his year in the U.S., one thing comes through clearly: what made the experience meaningful wasn’t just school or sports, it was feeling at home.

For host families, that’s really what hosting is about. It’s not about doing anything extraordinary. It’s about offering a safe, welcoming place where a student can be part of everyday life, and sharing meals, routines, and moments that slowly turn into memories.

Families who host through AYUSA come from all kinds of backgrounds and living situations. What they have in common is a willingness to open their home and include a student as part of the family while they’re here.

If you’re curious about hosting, you can start an AYUSA application to learn more. From there, we’re available to answer questions, talk through what hosting actually looks like day to day, and help determine whether it’s a good fit for both you and a student.

Frederick’s story is a reminder that hosting isn’t about being “perfect.” It’s about being present. Sometimes that connection lasts far beyond the school year, crossing oceans, cultures, and time zones.

Because for many host families and students alike, exchange really is for a lifetime.

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