AFS

AFS is one of the most reccomended programs, aside from Rotary, and I can understand why. There is a large support system and many different programs. However, it all depends on the location. AFS Finland is terrible! Aside from making comments on Finns and Finnish culture in general, the AFS Finland staff is not willing to help. I was in a bad host family who emotionally neglected and abused me. I confessed my concerns over and over for an entire month before AFS finally changed my families. They then, knowing I had anxiety, sent me to nothern Finland where I was having severe anxiety problems! I professed concerns immediately; health is not something you mess with. I even had a willing family down south, but still, AFS told me to wait it out. The AFS people from northern Finland were even worse! They wanted me to get pills and just stay; quick fix. Not very mature to sweep the problem under the rug like that.

Then, when all the semester kids asked to change to year they refused and said '10 years ago they put a rule..' which is terrible because it could be changed if they really sincerely cared about us and wanted to make an effort.

AFS aside,

I do NOT recommend a Finland exchange at all! ALL of the people on semester in Finland are really hating it. It isn't worth the hype or our time. Maybe we will look back in a few years and understand, but for now, it was not worth the $10,000.

My daughter, a high school senior, went on a 6 month study abroad in Costa Rica with AFS two years ago. AFS in our hometown in the US is a wonderfully run and very successful program and I mistakenly assumed it was like this everywhere. I was very wrong. To all parents, be VERY cautious about sending your children abroad with AFS. My view, from checking out the organization further, is that the organization is being run as a boondoggle for the national board and executives of the organization (check out their parties and travel) with little concern about the kids. My child was put in a very dangerous, drug invested area of town, no doors or windows on the house, with a physically abusive father and a mom that was called to a hotel at all hours of the night to perform some type of 'services.' AFS refused to find her another house and insinuated I was discriminating against lower class people. Finally, my daughter found her own new home with another girl she met at her school. I was ready to send in a SWAT team, and AFS was no help, would not return calls, etc. One of the teachers at the local high school helped her as he understood how bad her situation was. In summary, the local AFS people would put students with any type of family and often suggested the students parents send additional money, gifts to help students. Many students were in dangerous homes--one had a Dad that would get drunk and play with his gun collection around the family. Another girl was raped.
My daughter stayed for the full six months, in an area so dangerous she couldn't leave the house after dark. And she was determined to make the most of it and has strong friendships she developed (eg some of your closest friends come when you're under duress--but this isn't what I spent $10,000 for) She learned a lot and came home very mature. As a parent, do NOT send your child with AFS unless you have thoroughly researched the program in that country. Honestly, I would not use AFS in any case. Check out the boy in Turkey from a few years back. AFS outside the US is not safe for high school kids. I say this with sadness as the AFS program in Kansas City is fabulous.