TEXT: Each year the U.S. State Department hosts approximately 2,900 high school students from around the world. Here are some of the host parent’s stories ...

GRIGORIY S. (FLEX-RUSSIA): A stereotype about America…skyscrapers. Everybody thinks about New York when you say America…thousands of people…busy, noisy streets. The stereotype was wrong and when I came here I found out that America is a country of small cities. People live in their own communities, own houses…quiet life. It’s not the country of skyscrapers. It’s not the country of busy, noisy streets. It’s really an amazing experience and it’s amazing in different ways.

TEXT: What can you learn?

RAWIYA Q. (YES-MOROCCO): You get independent. You know how to budget yourself. You know the value of your family, of your country, of money. Even if it’s a small amount, but you know how to deal with it.

GRIGORIY S. (FLEX-RUSSIA): People who are going to take part in this exchange program, they should have some qualities. They should be willing to learn something new, they should be open, they should have open hearts to accept something new, meet new people, to accept new cultures. Now I can go to any continent. I can go to Africa. I can go to South America. I can go to Asia, to Europe and I can find friends there. I have friends all over the world now.

TEXT: You learned a lot? Would you do it again?

RAWIYA Q. (YES-MOROCCO): If I had to do it after thirty years, I’d do it.

TEXT: For more info, visit: http://exchanges.state.gov/youth.