Have you ever considered hosting an international student? As a host brother or sister you open up the potential for your own personal growth, the chance to make a friend for life in another country, and to have a lot of fun.

There are thousands of high school students, like you, around the world who are also considering study abroad. AFSers from more than 50 countries will arrive in the U.S. in January - as well as next fall. Opening your home to an AFS student before you go is a great way for you to prepare for your own experience.

Students like these will arrive in your area in January:

Jennifer from Chile: Jennifer volunteers with children several times a week, enjoys oil painting and playing sports with her friends. She tries to speak her mind without hurting others and enjoys a challenge! She is excited to learn about different cultures and share her own. Jennifer lives with her mother while her older brothers attend university.

Frederick from Austria: Frederick is a very active, sociable young boy who plays guitar and belongs to a rock band. He enjoys soccer, tennis and water sports, and speaks fluent Portuguese (along with German and English) due to his parents' Brazilian descent. According to his teacher, "Freddy is highly motivated, easygoing and sociable. He gets along well with all our students and teachers, and adapts well to change." Frederick's parents find him "socially intelligent" and highly independent.

AFS is looking for great host families to welcome an exchange student into their homes beginning in January. If you are interested in hosting, please complete our on-line Hosting Interest Form or call (800) AFS-INFO.

Please feel free to forward this email (using the link at the bottom) to someone who may be interested in this opportunity!

AFS offers year & semester programs in Germany and Austria, and a year program in Switzerland.

Why do students choose to study in a German speaking country?

-German is the most widely spoken language in Europe and it's not as hard as you might think! Because modern German and modern English both evolved from the common ancestor language Germanic, the two languages share many similarities in both vocabulary and grammar.

-You'll be surrounded by beautiful countryside, charming villages, local festivals, castles, rich history, vibrant culture, and warm and welcoming people.

-Many American students may be interested in learning more about their family's German heritage, especially since Germans form the largest single heritage group in the U.S. Besides, schnitzel and pretzels are really yummy!

Below, an AFSer named Becky shares her impressions of Austria:

"In Austria, there is a very old fashioned society living in a very modern lifestyle. Men are served and sit at the table after dinner while the women clean up. Men work outside, and women clean inside. Plus, the Austrians LOVE things to be clean. Their houses are their pride and joy.

School is difficult and completely different to the U.S. Social life is going out on the weekends. My best advice to dealing with that is just to shut out your thinking and what you know from the U.S. (to an extent of course) and jump right in, do what they do."

To learn more about these and other programs offered by AFS, please call the Info Center at (800) AFS-INFO.

An AFSer who will be traveling to Italy with AFS in January 2006 came up with a great idea to raise funds around the holidays: She raised about $2,000!

Last year before the holidays she sent out letters to people all over her town advertising that she would do their Christmas shopping for them. She also made flyers and put them in mailboxes where she knew there were kids living. Make sure to advertise that you are going on an exchange program with AFS! Supporters made the list, wrote a check, and she did the shopping. She also offered babysitting and house cleaning at the same time.

"It's pretty easy because you choose when and how often you work. I charged $10 an hour and I made about $2,000!"

Happy Holidays from all of us here at AFS-USA!