The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad program is the American sending portion of the Kennedy-Lugar YES program. The scholarship program that was founded in 2002 to bring students from countries with significant Muslim populations to live with host families in the United States to promote intercultural learning and understanding. In 2007, the YES program expanded to not only receiving students, but also sending American students to countries with significant Muslim populations. Find out more here.
So is the program focused entirely around learning about religion?
Nope. While it is very possible that host families who take in students are practicing Muslims, it is also possible that they aren't. The focus of the program is to learn about the overall culture of the host country.
When are you leaving?
On September 4th, 2014, I depart for New York City to Istanbul, Turkey.
When are you returning?
Some time in mid-June of 2015, I will have been in Turkey for roughly ten months.
Where are you going exactly?
I will be living in Aydın, with a population of about 195,000 and is roughly 60 km from the Mediterranean sea and 100 km south of Izmir, Turkeys 3rd largest city.
Where will you be living?
I will be living with a host family! I have a mom, dad, 18 year old host brother, and 12 year old host sister.
Turkey is in a an excellent location- will you be going to Greece, Italy or traveling at all?
This all depends on my host family, and it as been stressed to us that the point of this program is not to travel. If my host family likes to travel and they want to take me, then excellent. If they don't, so be it.
What will you be doing there?
Being a cultural ambassador. I will go to school as a Turkish teenager would, and learn about daily life and Turkish culture. At the same time, I will be teaching others what my life in the USA is like, and about my culture back home.
How much does the exchange cost?
For me, nothing. The program is entirely sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, all I have to do is pay for my passport.
Is a Turkish student going to be taking your place in your home and school?
Nope. While it is called an exchange program, it is not a direct exchange. Students come and go from all countries, but my family isn't actually exchanging me for a foreign student. It makes more sense to call it an Abroad Program rather than an Exchange Program.
Why did you choose Turkey?
When filling out the application, I had to list the 13 YES Abroad countries in order of preference. My preference would be taken into account, but wouldn't necessarily be my placement if I won the scholarship. I've always heard wonderful things from people who have traveled to Turkey, so I filled out the countries on a whim and put Turkey first. It turned out that I got my first choice, and the more I read and learn about Turkey, the happier I am that I put it first.
What language do they speak in Turkey?
Turkish! No joke, I have been asked if they speak Muslim in Turkey. -_-
Do you speak Turkish?
Biraz türkçe biliyorum. I have been going to a Turkish tutor twice a week this summer just to get my feet wet in the language.
I'm your family/I'm your best friend, can I come visit you while you're abroad?
Being away from home for a year is tough. I've been told extensively that no matter how much I think I won't get homesick, I probably will. They say that the worst thing to do when you are homesick is to call/skype/message/text/facebook your friends and family back home, and seeing your family or having them visit is the most disruptive thing you can do if you are trying to settle into a new culture and way of life. I also won't be home for the holidays.
Should I apply for the YES Abroad program?
YES YES YES you should! (there are tons of bad puns about this like say YES to YES!). Seriously though, if you are an American high school student (or a student in one of the YES countries that sends to the US, but I don't as much about their application process) and are considering being an exchange student, which you should be, then you should apply apply apply! They are really trying to get the word out about the program, so tell anyone you know that might be interested. Also, if you'd like to go to Germany, or go on exchange to learn a foreign language on scholarship, check out CBYX and NSLI-Y, two other programs sponsored by the US Department of State.
Are you going to graduate from American High School?
Since I will be a senior while abroad I have worked with my school to still receive credits. As far as I know I will still be receiving credits while abroad and graduating on time and will hopefully be attending college after my year abroad.
This all depends on my host family, and it as been stressed to us that the point of this program is not to travel. If my host family likes to travel and they want to take me, then excellent. If they don't, so be it.
What will you be doing there?
Being a cultural ambassador. I will go to school as a Turkish teenager would, and learn about daily life and Turkish culture. At the same time, I will be teaching others what my life in the USA is like, and about my culture back home.
How much does the exchange cost?
For me, nothing. The program is entirely sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, all I have to do is pay for my passport.
Is a Turkish student going to be taking your place in your home and school?
Nope. While it is called an exchange program, it is not a direct exchange. Students come and go from all countries, but my family isn't actually exchanging me for a foreign student. It makes more sense to call it an Abroad Program rather than an Exchange Program.
Why did you choose Turkey?
When filling out the application, I had to list the 13 YES Abroad countries in order of preference. My preference would be taken into account, but wouldn't necessarily be my placement if I won the scholarship. I've always heard wonderful things from people who have traveled to Turkey, so I filled out the countries on a whim and put Turkey first. It turned out that I got my first choice, and the more I read and learn about Turkey, the happier I am that I put it first.
What language do they speak in Turkey?
Turkish! No joke, I have been asked if they speak Muslim in Turkey. -_-
Do you speak Turkish?
Biraz türkçe biliyorum. I have been going to a Turkish tutor twice a week this summer just to get my feet wet in the language.
I'm your family/I'm your best friend, can I come visit you while you're abroad?
Being away from home for a year is tough. I've been told extensively that no matter how much I think I won't get homesick, I probably will. They say that the worst thing to do when you are homesick is to call/skype/message/text/facebook your friends and family back home, and seeing your family or having them visit is the most disruptive thing you can do if you are trying to settle into a new culture and way of life. I also won't be home for the holidays.
Should I apply for the YES Abroad program?
YES YES YES you should! (there are tons of bad puns about this like say YES to YES!). Seriously though, if you are an American high school student (or a student in one of the YES countries that sends to the US, but I don't as much about their application process) and are considering being an exchange student, which you should be, then you should apply apply apply! They are really trying to get the word out about the program, so tell anyone you know that might be interested. Also, if you'd like to go to Germany, or go on exchange to learn a foreign language on scholarship, check out CBYX and NSLI-Y, two other programs sponsored by the US Department of State.
Are you going to graduate from American High School?
Since I will be a senior while abroad I have worked with my school to still receive credits. As far as I know I will still be receiving credits while abroad and graduating on time and will hopefully be attending college after my year abroad.
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