By Alicia Sanchez

American Field Service is a nonprofit organization that exchanges foreign students around the world and encourages them to learn. Three current Plymouth High School students are a part of this organization, and community members volunteer to host students and to act as liaisons.

AFS has a main goal. Biology Teacher Suzette Read said, “AFS was created by former WWI ambulance drivers who wanted to promote better understanding between countries and cultures. They hoped to reduce the chances of such awful conflicts ever happening again. I think the ideas of learning about other cultures and promoting acceptance of other cultures is central to AFS.”  According to Pietro Bologna, an exchange student who was sent here from Italy, “the goal of AFS is making people from all over the world feeling Americans. I think most of the exchange students want to see if America is really the place we see on movies and in TV and feel what is the meaning of living like you do.” America is not the only country students are sent to. English Teacher Amy Schmeltz said, “It’s a pretty huge list from all over the world.” The countries they support are in Europe, Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and North and South America, and Australia.

For some AFS volunteers and students, joining was an easy decision. For others, it took time for them to be ready to travel or to host an exchange student. Mrs. Read is part of the latter group. Mrs. Read said, “Mr. Allen Shockney has been asking our family to host an exchange student for years. It wasn’t until last year that we finally felt like the timing was right for us.” Some students heard of the exchange program through word of mouth, via the internet, or through their school system. Danish Exchange Student Mikkel Strobbel said, “I heard about AFS from my mom because she searched the web and tried to find the best organization.”

The reasons people have for joining and volunteering at AFS are varied. Mrs. Read said, “I love to learn about other cultures and I love working with young people. It was a very easy decision. We are a pretty easy-going family and felt that we could welcome just about any student into our home.” Bologna said, “Because USA are always been my dream and AFS gave me the opportunity to make dreams come true.”

Volunteers and students alike have contributed to AFS in some way. Strobbel said, “I have contributed with telling people in USA how cool it is in Denmark and maybe they selecting AFS as me to be an exchange student.” The volunteers act as liaisons or host families. Mrs. Schmeltz, a liaison, said, “I am a liaison, which means I check in with both the host family and the exchange student to make sure everyone is having a good experience. I love being a liaison. Last year I was a liaison for Mai Takeuchi from Japan and her hosts, the Goskys. This year I am working with Leon Olszewski and the Millers.” Guidance Counselor Stacy Scheetz, a host and liaison, said, “I hosted a girl from Brazil in 1993. I have been a liaison to about 8 different students between when I lived in Bourbon through Triton High School and now.”

The time people spend as volunteers and students often leaves them with lifelong memories. Strobbel said, “I was on this AFS camp. There was an gala but the gala was an wedding. Everybody has an role to play. I was the groom. That was really funny to see how people acted.” Mrs. Schmeltz said, “Last year, I had the privilege of taking Mai, Bee, and Holly to a Cubs game as one of our final AFS activities for the year. We had bleacher seats right above the basket on the fence in the outfield. The girls had fun trying to get the outfielders to throw them a ball and they loved watching the people working in the scoreboard. It was cool to have such an All-American experience with them, but to also then share a meal at a Thai restaurant in Chicago. It was a nice way to bridge cultures.”

The time people spend in this program can change their lives. Bologna said, “AFS completely changed my life. And it is still changing it. After this year in the USA I will probably be a different person, more aware of his strengths and his limits, more mature and smart, more prepared to face all the problems of the life.” Mrs. Read said, “I have gained a new daughter. Valeria will always be my daughter. We traveled to Italy last Christmas to visit her and her family. I feel that they are now part of my extended family. We are very close and talk to each other all the time.” Mrs. Scheetz said, “It has been so rewarding. My family has been enriched by including others from different countries into our lives. I have connections all over the world as a result of it.”

Many Plymouth families are a part of this organization, but more families can still get involved. Mrs. Schmeltz said, “[AFS is a] fantastic program. I absolutely encourage more students and families to get involved so they can serve as Ambassadors and learn more about other cultures.” Adding onto that, Mrs. Read said, “I only think families who are willing to accept a student unconditionally into their family should be hosts. You can’t expect the student to suddenly change who they are to fit into your family. The students do try to adapt and fit in of course, but you have to be willing to accept them as they are as well.”

“I would recommend that students get involved in the club so they can learn from these students who have left their families for 10 months to experience life in the USA. I would also recommend that adults get involved by being a liaison, or host family for these kids,” Mrs. Scheetz said. Bologna encouraged students to join AFS. Bologna said, “I recommend AFS to everybody. Try it! Don’t be afraid by the distance from home, the uncertainties of an unknown country or the life with another family. I can’t promise you that it will be easy, but you’ll love it for sure.”

Strobbel said, “I would recommend AFS to everyone [that] dares to explore the world.”