As it turns out, all of our current AFS staff, and most board members, are either AFS exchange returnees or expats. This shared life experience sparked curiosity, leading us to survey the team about profound moments abroad and what led them to professionally embody the AFS mission. We explore the survey responses below, that weave together into some compelling insights!
Where We’ve Been
Our team’s international background is as diverse as the exchanges we promote. We’ve got two AFS staff members who went on AFS exchange to Costa Rica, a Kiwi who experienced Ohio, and others who ventured to Sweden, Japan, and Portugal with AFS. Adding to this tapestry are two team members who’ve made Aotearoa home from the USA, one from South Africa, and another who journeyed here from Germany via her AFS exchange in the States.
Effect on Career and Choosing AFS
Most of us agreed that an AFS exchange or travel experience influenced our career choice:
When asked why the team chose to work for AFS, most agreed it was for a genuine belief in the mission. This belief resulted from a rich lived experience and wanting to share with others:
“My AFS experience changed my world view… I like working for AFS now as I get to be a small part of helping others achieve that same feeling.”
“AFS gifted me the most life-changing year in 2008/2009. My time overseas was transformative, eye opening and incredibly fun! I have built lifelong connections… being able to help students on the same journey is such a joy.”
“I work for AFS because I believe this is an organisation I deem worth giving so much of my time up for…I want to be a person to spread the love and sense of family AFS brings to so many.”
“I have a passion for culture and human growth/development, and I feel that AFS gives that to both their participants and volunteers.”
Another key reason to be a part of AFS was to join the AFS community:
“When I went on AFS, I thought of it as an individual experience at the time. I grew to understand you are becoming part of a community. I went through a massive transition phase in my life and an AFS job popped up, bringing me full circle!”
The Biggest Impact
A significant 70% of the team identified the relationships they forged as the most impactful part of their time abroad. For some, these experiences even blossomed into significant life events:
“My host dad encouraged me to follow a particular dream.”
“Experiencing the fusion of our cultures when I met my partner was truly special.”
The remaining 30% of the team emphasised self-development as the most transformative aspect of their overseas experience. This personal growth included learning a new language, alongside more internal shifts such as gaining a stronger sense of self-pride and confidence.
Smaller, Everyday Impacts
Travel can subtly reshape our routines and quotidian. When distilling wider impacts into habits or practices picked up from time abroad, half of us responded that a phrase or motto from the country we visited continues to influence our daily lives. Some examples include:
“Komorebi – “Sunlight filtering through the tree leaves.” This word captures a poetic appreciation for nature and its beauty.”
¡Pura Vida!”
“I say Sei la! in my head if I think about not worrying about something – it means ‘so be it’, or ‘who cares’. My host brother used to say it – it annoyed me at the time but now this phrase rings in my head, like ‘Hakuna Matata’.”
“My little sister was only four when I left for Sweden. When I returned, I taught her how to say I love you in Swedish, “jag älskar dig”. 17 years later, we still say this to each other whenever we say goodbye be it in person or on the phone.”
Unsurprisingly, another common practice the AFS team integrates into their life was a gained respect for people’s differences. This attitude includes taking time to engage patiently with non-English speakers, becoming generally more open-minded, and thinking “It’s not better or worse – just different” when encountering cultural variances. Others responded that there were too many small influences from abroad to distill into just a few words – the change was all encompassing!
Things We Still Smile About
A particularly unique aspect of an AFS exchange is its distinction from typical travel. Involving a deep immersion into another routine, rhythm, and community, one can sink in to appreciate unpretentious moments. It turns out that for over half of us (55%), something that still makes us smile is the thought of a special person we connected with overseas. Often, these memories included a simple, everyday moment. Take these examples:
“Sitting in my host sister’s bedroom watching a movie and eating popcorn. It was so simple and so familiar, and I remember feeling like I truly belonged.”
“Just thinking of my host mum in general!”
“Meeting my host family for the first time. The joy, comfort and relief I felt meeting them was overwhelming….it was obvious to me at that moment that they were the perfect family for me.”
“Sitting down for dinner at the end of the day and chatting for hours about anything and everything.”
“Simply sitting in the park after school chatting with my fellow AFS friend with some bakery goods.”
“The feeling of bewilderment and intrigue you get from the ‘normal’/ ordinary things when observing it being done differently in another country.”
Our team also fondly recalled lighter, laugh-out-loud moments. These included one host sister hilariously demonstrating toilet usage to an AFS student, unsure of their familiarity with the concept back home, and the cow tipping experience (definitely NOT recommended for current participants!) at AFS camp.
Advice We’d Give our Younger Selves
When we asked the team what advice they’d give their pre-exchange or pre-travel selves, 30% emphasised fully embracing the experience :
“Enjoy every day! Even the hard ones. Before you know it, it’ll be time to go home.”
“Just do it!”
“Commit to language learning earlier because the pride you feel when you have mastered it is immense. Secondly, write your travel journal in more detail!”
A further 27% advised their younger selves to keep calm:
“It’s okay to not know the answers.”
“Remember to breathe – you can do this!”
Several others wished they’d known just how extraordinary the people they’d encounter would be, including the AFS network:
“You will meet amazing people who will change your life”
“You can use your AFS connection your whole life. From the skills you gain being outside of your comfort zone to the connections you make, to the broader fraternity of the worldwide AFS network, to the awesome volunteering and giving back experiences that you can engage in. It can be the most significant connection you will ever make by far.”
Our Recipes from Abroad
- Gallo Pinto – Costa Rican Beans and Rice: https://stripedspatula.com/gallo-pinto/
- Snickers Salad! : https://lilluna.com/apple-snickers-salad/
- Caldo de Pollo – Chicken soup that’s great for when feeeling ill: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/231097/caldo-de-pollo/
- Bollo de Bolacha – Biscuit Cake: https://www.homemadeinterest.com/bolo-de-bolacha-portuguese-biscuit-cake/
- Swedish Cloud Cake: https://tasty.co/recipe/swedish-sticky-chocolate-cake-kladdkaka
- Baked salmon with a cashew nut, lime and chili crust – yum!
- A Host Mother’s croquettes – This recipe is locked inside the AFSer’s head
- Pavlova!
Team Photo Album
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