Japanese Father Relives AFS Experience of 37 Years Ago

Thirty-seven years after his exchange year in New York with AFS, Etsuo Doi returned to relive that high school graduation experience with his 17 year old daughter, Karen, who walked through West High School graduation exercises last Sunday. Etsuo said his AFS experience was a life changing one. In his current job he uses English regularly, taking advantage of the proficiency he developed during his exchange year. Even more important were the growth in maturity, self confidence, and understanding of the U.S. that he experienced.

It is unusual for a natural parent to attend their child’s AFS graduation, but Mr. Doi was in Chicago on business the very week of Karen’s ceremony. Although it was not easy to send his daughter to live for 10 months with another family, he knew the AFS exchange would be a great experience for her. Karen had wanted to be an exchange student since 6th grade when foreign students visited her school to make presentations. She has been living with Mike and Julie Popplewell and their 3 young children (ages 8, 9, and 11) since August. Karen has joined right into the busy young family’s life with camping trips, playing with the kids, participating in household chores, and especially sharing experiences in their common passion, music.

AFS volunteers are currently seeking host families for the students who will be arriving in August for the next school year. If you would like to open your home to a teen from another country and join us in working toward a more just and peaceful world, please go to www.afsusa.org and check out the international and intercultural learning opportunities that await your family!

While there you can also explore the great programs AFS offers for American students to travel and study abroad in dozens of countries.