The value of spending a year exploring another culture cannot be overrestimated – and neither can the benefits of welcoming a foreign student into your home. Youth for Understanding have the following to say about the hosting experience: ‘When your family decides to go global by sharing your life with a student from abroad, everyday experiences take a new and exciting twist - American traditions gain deeper meaning as you introduce them to your new son or daughter; a casual family chat about world events reveals new perspectives you may never have considered; the dinner table includes exotic new dishes as your exchange student cooks up a taste of home for all to sample. Exchange will broaden your entire family's perspective on the world’.
Norway was one of the first nations encouraging youth exchange, and since the 1960s, when the first Norwegian exchange students traveled to Germany and the U.S., thousands of Norwegian teenagers have crossed the Atlantic. This august alone, AFS Norway sent 230 students to 23 countries all over the world. The U.S. has remained a firm favourite among Norwegian students due to the academic repute of its high schools, as well as the common cultural denominators for Norway and the U.S.
The Norwegian students have in turn been popular among host families all over the world. Their academic motivation improves their chances of thriving in a different educational system, while their language skills make it easier to form new friendships. The Embassy recently had a meeting with Heidi Furustøl, National Director for Youth for Understanding Norway, who emphasized the interest among Norwegian teenagers in the U.S., and their adaptability to U.S. culture.
Unfortunately, locating host families sometimes poses a challenge for many of the organizations facilitating exchange at high school level. If you are interested in learning more about these organizations, or consider helping a Norwegian teenager realize his or her American dream, you may visit the following sites:
www.yfu.no
www.afs.no
www.ef.no
www.sts-education.no