AFS Intercultural Programs: High School Abroad in Hungary

During my exchange the AFS weekends were amazing. I actually met some of my best friends from exchange on these. I think I defiantly have a broader perspective on how I look at things now. And going on AFS has opened up my eyes to the whole world.

My AFS exchange experience was amazing, influential, eye-opening, challenging in a good kind of way and introduced me to a culture and country that resonated as "home" to me. From the moment I flew into NYC and met the other students, I was supported and knew that AFS staff was taking care of us and preparing us for our unique, amazing, educational, challenging exchange experiences. The AFS volunteers and staff met us at the airport in Budapest and brought me and all the other students to our Arrival Orientation. We stayed at a hostel in Budapest and had amazing city views (even though we didn't do any city tours). Instead, they had us busy with getting to know each other, basic Hungarian lessons, cultural values and traditions and other important info (like school life, typical Hungarian family life etc.). In country, my host family was so wonderful and sweet. I bonded with my host grandmother, who spoke no English, over baking/cooking and helping to get everything ready for our weekly Sunday meals as a family. My host mother also spoke very little English and I had zero Hungarian, so we helped each other by writing on post-it notes the names of things (in Hungarian and English) and labeling everything in the kitchen. It really helped me and I could help her out more with setting the table, putting dishes away, etc. I went to school with my host sister and struggled, but still had a great experience. Sometimes, I had embarrassing or stressful moment, like when the mathematics teacher called on me, out the the 40 kids in class, to answer an question - and all I could said was "4" in Hungarian. (Hint: the answer was definitely NOT 4). So, one of my classmates told the teacher that he called on the exchange student and the teacher felt very bad and apologized for putting me on the spot. Some classes were easy though, like English. I definitely got an A in English class and a B in French. :) My local chapter organized cultural trips around the city with other exchange students, to learn more about local history and traditions. My host family brought me on family trips and showed me the country. (Side note: Hungary is very small country and my host family loved to do day-trips by car. However, AFS isn't a travel program and students shouldn't expect/assume that they will travel or go on trips. It all depends on your family, just like your family in the USA.) They also organized Hungarian-language lessons for me and other exchange students in my city (both AFS and Rotary). So, I learned Hungarian slowly. No matter what, AFS was always there to support and help us with anything. AFS-Hungary did super cool orientations throughout the year/semester, which was chance to meet up with other AFSers placed across the country and share about our experiences, challenges, joys, frustrations, and accomplishments. It was also a chance to do talent shows, play games, and just spend time together. When my AFS program was over, it was heartbreaking and super hard to leave my host family. I loved then, my city, and Hungary so much that I chose a college in the US that had a study abroad program to the local university to my city in Hungary. So, I was lucky enough to return and spend another 3 semesters with my host sister as my classmate, enjoying Sunday meals with my host family, and build up my Hungarian language skills! That shows how much my host family, my city and Hungary became a part of me. AFS exchange programs aren't easy and aren't a vacation. But, it helped me to figure out what I want, where I want my life to go, and helped me to gain a new language, family, country, culture and home! I recommend AFS with all my heart and give it a billion stars!!