It’s terrifying to go to a whole new country with nothing familiar, no one you know, and a journey full of unknowns. That’s what I felt when I stepped on the plane to Norway for a whole year.

I’ve been in Norway for about 3 months now, everything is still so strange and novel. When I first set foot in Norway, meeting my host family was the first thing on my mind. It’s both exciting and scary because you don’t know what to expect. However, all the uncertainties vanished the moment i met my host family. They all greeted me with a big smile on their face and a warm welcoming hug. We spent a lot of time together doing all sorts of things, water fights in the garden, and going to the glaciers. We bonded through all these fun yet simple things. I can’t get a better family than this.

I still have a lot to explore and learn in the next 7 months, still have a lot of challenges to face. But one thing for sure, its that this is going to be a life changing experience.

Ma Wing Yan – Norway

AFS is a leading study abroad program for secondary school students, supported and facilitated by trained staff and volunteers. Since 1947, AFS has prepared young people with practical skills and knowledge valued by universities and employers—and needed to succeed in a global world. AFS programs help young people learn about a world beyond their own communities—and become comfortable interacting with people from other countries and cultures.