My own study abroad experience and what I learned through my children's study abroad experiences.

When I was in high school, I studied abroad at New Canaan High School in Connecticut, USA. The town, with 99% white population, was so small that just biking around, I became quite well-known, with many people calling out my name. I even appeared in the local newspaper several times and was interviewed by a local paper in Indiana, the hometown of my host family, appearing in the paper the next day.

After college, I worked in finance but later transitioned to a career in academia where I gained experience in interpretation and translation. Eventually, I opened a language school locally. Having experienced studying abroad myself and with three of my children also studying abroad through AFS, I want to write about the insights gained from both perspectives.

Studying abroad isn't just about learning a language; rather, it's about having the awareness of being an informal diplomat, as AFS seeks. For host families, I represented Japan, and they judged Japanese people based on me, for better or worse. Before studying abroad, it's essential to not only study English but also learn about Japanese history and culture. Similarly, having basic knowledge about the culture, customs, and history of the host country is crucial. Following the family's rules while living with the host family is also necessary.

Parents may have many concerns about their children studying abroad, but it's recommended to avoid contacting them more than necessary. While it's understandable to worry about your child struggling in a foreign country far from home, it's a great opportunity for them to overcome various challenges independently. Life is long, and experiencing such things as a teenager is rare. I've had study abroad experiences both in high school and college, and I believe studying abroad in high school offers more interactions with various people and the chance to play the role of a small-scale diplomat.

Experiences vary, but in college, I've seen many international students struggling just to keep up with classes. In that sense, I recommend studying abroad in high school and then studying abroad again in college.

My children have studied abroad in both high school and college, and I feel that the experience as a college student is different. In my family, some children have study abroad experience while others don't, and I can feel differences in their perspectives. In that sense, if possible, studying abroad as a teenager, even for just a year, will be a valuable experience.