American Students

and their Parents.

Change Your Life,
Change the World.

Alumni Referral

If you would like to learn about the experiences of YFU students, please e-mail your questions to any of these YFU Alumni. They have all participated in a YFU program and would be glad to share their YFU experience with you. When sending an e-mail, please include:

  • YFU in the subject line
  • Your name, age, and city/state
  • Country, length, and year of program that you are interested in

If you have questions regarding specific program components, admissions, tuition and scholarships, or other program-specific information, please e-mail our admissions office. You may also talk to an admissions counselor by calling toll-free 1.800.TEENAGE (1.800.833.6243).

Alumni Referral List

*Alumni with an asterisk next to their program name were scholarship recipients.

  • Country/Program
    First Name
    Quote
  • Argentina
    Semester
    Jackie
    If I could say anything about my exchange, I would say it was life changing. I will never think or be the same again. I can actually say that I no longer see in just yellow or blue but I see in green. Doing an exchange will change you and your worldly outlook for the rest of your life. DO IT! IT COULD BE THE BEST THING YOU DO TO DATE!
  • France
    Year
    Amber
    It was a great. I really had a good time and loved my host family. And I would love to share my experience and answer questions
  • Brazil
    Summer * Explore Amazonia
    Kristen
    Spending the summer in Brazil was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had! I am willing to answer any questions and I am available just to talk... even if you aren't going to Brazil. Being an exchange student is a life-changing experience and I would love to share anything and everything about my time abroad!
  • Chile
    Summer
    Nancy
    Hola! I'm happy to answer questions you may have before your trip or even if you're just scoping out programs. Going on a cultural exchange is a fantastic experience, and Chile is a great country to visit. Exchanges can be challenging, overwhelming, exciting, and best of all (well, at least in my opinion) open your mind to other cultures and values. You'll learn a lot about yourself too-even though it sounds cliché.
  • Ecuador
    Year *
    Mallory
    Ecuador is such an interesting country. I lived in Ibarra in the mountains, but we went on trips to the coast, rainforest, and the Galapagos islands while I was there. The people are very friendly and open and I will definitely be going back to visit in the future. After I got over the culture shock it really was one of the biggest learning experiences of my life.
  • Russia
    Summer*
    Dan
    Russia is such an amazing country, containing wide open tracks of land as well as major metropolises such as Moscow and St. Petersburg. I am so glad I was able to go there and see for myself the beautiful architecture of Moscow as well as the rolling country. I recommend someone going to Russia to have an open mind and be very flexible. Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have.
  • Finland
    Summer *
    Chris
    The summer of 2007 provided me with new experiences everywhere I went as I lived in Turku, Finland. Being in a country as unique as Finland I was always intrigued by the new language and the constant surprises that everyday brought. I was fortunate to visit many areas around the country, as well as make many great friends. Finland may be stereotypically reserved and quiet, but there were so many opportunities that made my summer one of the most outstanding ever. I also documented my summer with pictures on ccfinland.blogspot.com
    Summer*
    Alyssa
    Moi! I lived in a (very) small city in the west called Seinäjoki and had a great host family, though having two little sisters was definitely an eye-opener for me! It was by far the best experience I have ever had. Finland may not be as flashy as some other countries, but once you spend some real time in the culture, you start to understand the way the Finns view life, and it's fascinating. I also fell in love with the gorgeous hills and lakes, not to mention all the saunas! If you have any questions about dealing with little siblings, the language, living out of a big city, or anything at all, I'd be happy to answer them!
  • Germany
    Semester *
    Mallory
    A semester just isn't enough time to fully understand another culture. I wanted to stay the year, but my mom wouldn't let me! I lived in the western part of Germany near Cologne. German isn't nearly as hard as they make it out to be.
  • Hungary
    Year
    Elli
    I was the happiest I've ever been in my life during my exchange year in Hungary. I learned about the culture, the language, but more importantly I learned about myself. With my host family, friends, co-workers, classmates, and host-relatives, I grew so much as a person and had the time of my life.
  • Japan
    Summer *
    Jared
    I spent the summer of 2003 with a family in Kanagawa, Japan, and it became one of the defining events of my life. I studied Japanese in college and now work in the public school system of Yamanashi Prefecture. If you have questions or concerns please feel free to drop me a line.
  • Uruguay
    Year
    Dan
    Living in Uruguay for a year was very beneficial for me. I started seeing new perspectives on lifestyles and cultures in a better light than I had before. It also helped me grow to appreciate all the diversity between people and people's unique personalities. Living in a host family was fantastic. Looking back I can see how different the influences are between being raised in the family I lived with abroad and growing up in the family I have in the US. The best part of it all was that I had a good time with all the people I met there - my family, my classmates in school abroad, and with all the other foreign exchange students from around the world. I wouldn't go back and change that year of my life for anything.
  • Japan
    Summer *
    Jessica
    I didn't know any Japanese before I went, but I didn't run into many difficulties. If you have any questions about school, family life, shopping, what gifts to bring... how to avoid eating fish (that was difficult!), or anything else, I'd love to answer your questions!
    Summer *
    Regina
    Originally I was a YFU exchange student in Ishigaki-Jima, Okinawa as a Japan-American Friendship Scholar. Then continued to study Japanese in high school and at university. I traveled with friends on mainland Japan in 2007 then returned to live/work in Japan from 2008-2010.
  • Korea
    Summer
    Amber
    I went for the summer and had a great time. And I am willing to answer questions.
  • Brazil
    Summer*
    Jordan
    The food, the occasional mispronunciation, the food, driving around Brasilia with my host sisters, the food, exchanging opinions and perceptions with my host parents, and…oh, did I forget to mention the food? The summer of ’08 was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life. A small town girl from eastern Kentucky getting the opportunity to travel to and actually live in a foreign country…a rare privilege that YFU and Toyota Manufacturing blessed me with. Feel free to contact me and we will chat about YFU, travel, Brasil, or anything that is on your mind!
  • Spain
    Year
    Emma
    While living in Spain, every day was an adventure. Full immersion is a definite challenge but without it, I wouldn't have made life-long connections with so many Spaniards, understood the culture, nor learned Spanish as well. I can say without a doubt that spending my gap year in Granada was the best decision I ever made! Please ask me any questions about Spain, gap year programs, or exchanges in general.
  • Germany
    Year*
    Kristin
    Having an opportunity to study abroad in Germany is one that I'm glad I didn't pass up. It was perhaps the best year of my life. I grew in so many different ways and experienced a lot that I never expected. I would definitely recommend studying abroad to anyone and would love to answer any questions about my year.
  • Spain
    Summer Language & Culture
    Emily
    I lived on the green northern coast of Spain in the city of Santander. Going through the learning process of developing familiarity with a new language and culture encouraged me to see a new perspective on the world as a whole. Because of my exchange experience, I have become a world traveler and am now teaching English in South Korea. My advice: go through YFU, don't have expectations, let your experience be your own...and love it. Email me with any questions!
  • Sweden
    Summer *
    Janet
    Hej hej fran Svergie! YFU's Sweden exchange changed my life dramatically. My amazing, fun loving host family expanded my perspective of life. We sailed around the archipedigo for weeks, drove all around the coast during mid summer, and took advantage of the goregouse Scandinavian summer. Because of my experience in Sweden, I was confident enough to move full-time to London, where I did all four years of university. I'm currently working as a journalist for the Associated Press London Bureau. If you have any questions about the country, the people, the food (fjol mujlk), feel free to contact me!
  • Uruguay
    Year
    Josh
    Going to Uruguay with YFU shaped my life. Since then, I've been in two dozen countries, done two other [university] study abroad programs and lived in over half a dozen of the countries that I've visited. Uruguay amazed me and I long to go back. I still keep in touch with my family and hope to be with them again soon!
  • Japan
    Summer*
    Alayna
    I really didn’t know how to react when I found out I would spend my summer in Osaka City, Japan. Where would the green mountains and rice fields I had imagined waking up to each morning? However, Osaka soon stole my heart, and I now regard it as my second hometown! I was blessed with a fantastic host family, and one of my favorite memories was learning to cook a Japanese meal from my host mother. I would LOVE to answer any questions you have, whether they be about city life, making friends, Japanese food, or even how to study Japanese before you go (I recommend this!!) Feel free to email me anytime!
  • Brazil
    Summer*
    Meagan
    Being an exchange student is an opportunity you will never forget. My experience was filled with many memories that will last the rest of my life and it opened my mind to a more diverse outlook on life. If you have any questions or concerns I would be happy to help you!
  • Sweden
    Year
    Nikole
    My 13th year in Stockholm, Sweden was one of the best decisions I ever made! I learned a language, made great friends, and got to experience a very different way of life. Over the year, I got to compete on a track team, see the Noble Prize speeches, celebrate midsummer festival, go to concerts, and watch Mamma Mia of course!
  • Japan
    Summer*
    Annie
    I spent my 2008 summer in a little paradise called Okinawa- which I'd like to call the Hawaii of Japan. Okinawa was definitely not what I imagined it be like. The island is rich with Ryukuun traditions and a very unique province, different from mainland Japan. My host family was incredibly kind and loving. They welcomed me into their warm family environment and together we happily sweated through the intense island heat. Which was a great contrast to the unpredictable weather in the Midwest! On this small island, every day there was an adventure for me. I cherished each day there embracing all the new cultural differences, and still do to this day. Feel free to send me all your questions and concerns, I'd be more than happy to help you make the most of your experience. Whether it be one email or five hundred, I'll try my best to answer all your questions to the best of my ability.
  • Korea
    Year
    Kristin
    My experience with YFU has allowed me to see the world from a whole different perspective, a much larger perspective. I also was able to make many new friends that I still keep in contact with. In short, through my trip I was able to learn and make use of many skills, communication and the ability to adapt to new environments for example, that I believe will serve me well in the years to come AND make new friends at the same time.
  • Denmark
    Year
    Emily
    Year
    Abby
    Not a day goes by without thinking about my semester abroad and realizing how it's changed me. It was an amazing six months that passed in a flash and has left me with unbelievable memories, friends, a new language, and a whole new family. I would be happy to help answer any questions or concerns, from packing problems to the uncertainty of dealing with a new language, whether you are traveling to Denmark or farther!
  • France
    Year
    Emily
    The decision that I made to spend my junior year abroad in France was the best one that I've ever made in my life! I learned so much about French people, French culture, and myself, and grew so much as a person in ten short months. I established another life filled with people I care about just as much as those I know in the United States. Though being an exchange student definitely is not easy, if you're willing to push yourself a little farther, you'll be surprised at what you learn. I'd love to answer any questions you may have, whether it's about France specifically or exchanges in general!
  • Argentina
    Year
    Reilly

Please contact us at alumni@yfu.org if you have questions or problems with a particular e-mail address.

If you are a recently returned alumna/us and would like to be on the Alumni Referral list, please contact alumni@yfu.org.

Thank you for participating!