AFS is pleased to share the following announcement:

On November 10, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution designating 2006 as the “Year of Study Abroad.” The resolution, introduced by Senator Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), encourages initiatives to promote and expand study abroad opportunities. Educating students internationally is an important way to share the values of the United States, to create goodwill for the United States around the world and to work toward a peaceful global society.

The Senate listed many reasons for making this resolution, including:

• Study abroad programs help people from the U.S. to be more informed about the world and to develop cultural awareness;
• Studying abroad exposes students from the U.S. to valuable global knowledge and cultural understanding and forms an integral part of their education;

• Studying abroad influences subsequent educational experiences, decisions to
  expand or change academic majors, and decisions to
  attend graduate school;
• Some of the core values and skills of higher education are enhanced by participation in study abroad programs;
• Study abroad programs not only open doors to foreign language learning, but also empower students to better understand themselves and others through a comparison of cultural values and ways of life;
• Study abroad programs can provide specialized training and practical experiences not available at institutions in the U.S.

"Now more than ever, America needs citizens who can understand and communicate with people all over the world," Durbin stated in a speech to his Senate colleagues. "However, fewer than one percent of all U.S. undergraduates participate in study- abroad programs while nearly 600,000 international students from more than 200 countries study in the United States each year. The future of our nation depends on our ability to prepare the next generation of leaders for an increasingly complex global society."

Below are examples of students who will be participating with AFS.

Jorinde from Netherlands: Jorinde is a typical teenage girl with a very active social life. When not studying or working her part- time job, she enjoys reading, dancing, and shopping. She also plays the piano. After graduation, Jorinde plans to attend law school. Jorinde is a very outgoing, sociable teenager who spends much of her free time with friends. She enjoys new experiences and meeting many different people. She easily adapts to new situations and is respectful of cultural differences. Jorinde lives with her mother and father. They have a close relationship which the parents describe as "positive, warm, and trustful." Jorinde credits her independence and extroversion to her upbringing as an only child.

Pongsarn from Thailand: Pongsarn, also known as Lens, enjoys playing the guitar twice a week and jogging three times a week. He also collects model airplanes and wants to become a pilot in the future. Lens is close to his friends and they often play soccer or go to the movies. Lens is described by his father as joyful and responsible. His teacher says he "can be described as an energetic student who is eager to learn and participate in school activities. Furthermore, he is friendly with others." Lens lives with his father, mother, older sister, and younger brother. Both of his parents are opticians and run their own business. His sister, Chutarat, was also an AFS student in the United States for a year.