Posts by Mel Dyjak

Anisha traveled from India to North Carolina through the YES (Youth Exchange and Study) Program — a full-ride, merit-based scholarship earned after a year-long selection process that saw only 30…

They’re back! Lara (exchange student, 2024-2025) and Lexy (host mom & YFU staff member) return for our most-requested reunion episode — and yes, this is the pair behind our #1…

What does it take to pack up your life at 17 and move to a completely different country for a year? In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding,…

France’s most famous gift to America arrived in 1886. Clara arrived in Minnesota in 2023. Both changed things forever. 🗽 What does it actually feel like to leave home for…

  What does it really feel like to land in Japan at 16, not knowing if your Japanese is good enough — and stay for six weeks? In this episode…

At 16, Dominyka left her home in Lithuania to spend a year in the United States as a FLEX exchange student—a decision that changed her life. After earning a spot…

  In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, host Kelsey Ross sits down with Joy Cade, Virtual Orientations Chairperson at YFU and former exchange student to Japan. Joy…

  One Year of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding Can you believe it has been a whole year? Because honestly, we still can’t. One year ago, Life Exchanged: Stories of…

  In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, host Kelsey Ross sits down with Alexandra Tague, a CBYX alum who spent 2009–2010 living and studying in Germany through…

  In this episode of Life Exchanged: Stories of Understanding, Thai exchange alumna Tanya Thabjan shares the story of how her year studying abroad in the United States transformed her…