What inspired you to work for YFU?
I enjoy learning and working in an international environment. You can never stay stagnant working with youth and international partners.
The world is constantly evolving and learning, whether it's cultural sharing or immigration changes. It is a great way to stay on top of international topics and how things affect the USA or other countries.
Checking out the markets in Greece.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Be open-minded, and make small talk with your family, group, or other YFU students. Go out of your comfort zone, even if it is hard.
Eat the food, even if you normally would not try it at home. Show appreciation to your hosts and take an interest in them. Ask them about their town, family history, country, politics, etc. Taking an interest in someone goes a long way.
Why should someone choose YFU over competitors?
There are a lot of organizations out there that do exchange these days. They all do business pretty differently. One thing that makes YFU special is that our students live with host families, they aren't staying in hotels typically (unless on excursion).
This is so different than going on a tour with other Americans. You get to practice the local language and be more immersed in the culture, which makes you feel part of something special and bigger than yourself. Another big plus is that YFU programs cover room and board, health insurance, and airfare, which is not typical of many programs.
What hopes do you have for the future for your organization?
I hope that with the division in the world surrounding politics and corruption, we rely on organizations like YFU to help us rebuild relationships with one another. I worry that people may decide not to host a student or not go abroad because of the tensions, even though reconnecting through exchange is needed more than ever.
Our humble beginnings here at YFU began after WW2 by bringing German students here to the USA to see our way of life and reconnect after the war.
Checking out classic Grecian architecture.
What is your YFU's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
YFU advances intercultural understanding, life-long learning, global competencies, mutual respect, and social responsibility through transformational educational exchanges for generations of youth, families, and communities.
It’s supported by dedicated volunteers and professional staff. We work toward it by working through cultural barriers and helping mediate cultural adjustment issues between our students and host families.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
We hope they become more confident and are better able to see the good in others. We hope that they give back to their community and share what they have learned. We also hope they stay connected with YFU, whether that means volunteering, hosting a student in the future when they become an adult, etc.
Great views of Greece anywhere you go!
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Seeing how someone else lives, especially when that someone has opened their home to you and shared their wisdom, food, parental guidance, love, etc, makes them more human. It’s important to see past differences and admire their positive qualities.
It is a life-changing experience. It does take a special student to do this program, and our students often become leaders in their community as adults.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means that you learned something valuable, that you won't forget. Sometimes even difficult experiences abroad are momentous learning opportunities, and it is important to think that way when you are choosing to travel.
At the moment, you might be jetlagged and tired, homesick, or not getting along with a host sibling, but you are gaining the skills to handle hard things. Students come home confident with memories that they will have for a lifetime.
