During their exchange program with AFS, students will live in a host family, attend a local school and therefore experience a foreign culture up close. AFS á Íslandi provides a preparation camp before departure (Undirbúningsnámskeið) and a reorientation-camp (heimskomnámskeið) where students can share their experience with volunteers and other exchange students.
Upon arrival, before being picked up by their families, participants are welcomed by staff and volunteers at Vienna’s airport. An orientation meeting is held by the local volunteers one or two weeks after arrival. Local chapters organize meetings to evaluate the experience and optional activities, the cost of which is usually covered by the participants. They also organize a 1-2 day meeting to prepare for participants’ return to their home countries.
While abroad, each student will be assigned a volunteer (liaison) to accompany them throughout their journey, helping them to understand the local reality and overcome difficulties in cultural adjustment.
Host families with AFS are voluntarily hosting, come from all kinds of socio-economic backgrounds and can be very different from each other. Where they live can also vary; some of them live in cities, while others live in more rural or suburban areas.
Depending on where the host family lives, AFS students may be placed in private or international schools.