International students have made a brave decision to travel throughout the world and live an unforgettable experience on their own. Behind this decision there’s a long process that involves much effort and time. That requires research, paperwork, interviews, consideration of economic limitations and the very noticeable help from the agencies, who provide contacts and information. 

According to Neele Hofmann, an exchange student from Germany,  “My agency had a website for me, with a portal where I had all my documents that I needed to fill out,  so I always knew exactly what was my next step.” 

“I think it was much easier having an agency who already has done that thousands of times, so for me, my agency helped me a lot,” Hofmann said. 

The values that international students carry make them respectable role models for others to follow. Generally, these students are raised with tolerance, respect, empathy, independence and self-confidence, which makes them able to take a flight to the other side of the world and go change their lives. 

Being away from home could change a person forever. Having this experience is useful for learning new things. According to Vittoria Rosellini, an exchange student from Italy, “I think I learned a lot, how to communicate with people who are really different from me. I learned how to stay with just myself, alone, without someone close to me that can help me and support me every day.” It’s clear that being away from home for that long time is definitely challenging, but the individual results of an experience like that would make the person learn and get used to it. According to Anna Cañellas, an exchange student from Spain, “Being able to have this experience changed my life completely. In the beginning it was difficult to adapt to and there were a lot of changes, but thanks to all the people around me that helped me, it became much easier.”

We take Norwich Free Academy as a reference to understand how programs like that have turned even more significant and normalized in the past years. According to Kelby Chappelle, Director of Admissions at NFA, “This 2025-26 school year is the most exchange students that we have had. We currently have 75 international students.” We notice that the most popular nationality coming to campus this year is Spain, and following there’s China and Canada. In past years Germany or Switzerland were the countries with the most foreign students at NFA, and Chappelle said that it is unpredictable to know from which country most students are going to come from. 

International students expose the “local” students  to new cultures, languages, routines or food. Making possible travel around the world without taking a flight.

According to NFA English teacher Christopher Brown, “ I  think it is fantastic (for international students to attend NFA). I think it’s great for them to come here… I also think it is great for our kids to be exposed to kids from other countries.”

Brown continues by saying that having international students in his classes makes a difference in a positive way. Brown recalled a conversation with an exchange student, saying, “You bring a different perspective, because you see the world differently than I see it.  And how couldn’t you?, you were raised in a different set of culture and values. Even though we share values, you are going to express them differently based on the culture you come from.”

In the beginning it can be difficult for exchange students to be away from their families and friends, and start communicating with their new host families or friends. In the long run everyone wins. The exchange student has made the brave decision to live in a different country and live an incomparable experience. While the family hosting them and the new friends learn about somebody who may live thousands of miles away.  According to Taylor McPherson, Host Sister of two exchange students, “They bring me diversity. It’s learning to exist with another culture but also adapting to that culture”.  In relation to her experience living with her two host sisters, from Spain and Germany, she emphasizes that “It’s been so much fun and so much laughter all the time that it wouldn’t be the same without them.”