Ronnyelle’s Adventures
Many firsts for Surinamese turned Arizonan
Established by the U.S. Department of State in 2002, the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) program provides scholarships for high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations.
YES exchange students from Indonesia, Pakistan, Kenya, and many more countries spend an academic year with an American host family, learning about American culture, government, and family life.
YES program students hosted by PAX send us stories about everything from family dinners to traveling to Washington, D.C. Read their stories here and learn more about the YES exchange program and hosting a PAX exchange student.
Many firsts for Surinamese turned Arizonan
Zahira's (Indonesia) wonderful first month
Impactful early experiences in Wisconsin
Sweet and sour Sidra
Dance show caps off busy spring for Thai teen
Positive attitude the key in South Dakota
A true grassroots diplomat in Utah
English instruction and youth empowerment
February, March, & April 2023
Big first for Indonesian
Caverns, aliens, and white sand for Madina (Uzbekistan) and Shaista (Pakistan)
Four scholarship students recognized
Winner: International Education Week student contest
Pakistani holds 51 presentations!
Mohammad proud to represent the Philippines
Louay leans in for an extra special week
Pakistani leans into leadership role in TX
Indonesian on religious understanding, making friends, and pushing herself
A few observations from Arizona
Pacific Northwest "Pandemic PAXers" reconnect
Ghanaian positive role model in Vermont
Hard work and positive attitude pay off for tech-loving Indonesian
Puhiza (center) volunteering in the concessions, again
Albanian helps prepare the 2022/23 cohort
Like a bridge between cultures: an exchange's beginning
"Shiny black shoes" & Friday night lights
This Bosnian's #1!
Hoosiers, homecoming, and the yellow school bus
Pakistani's pitch a hit in Ohio
Volunteering the highlight for Moroccan
Indonesian happy to pitch in for the festivities
Showing off his Indonesian school uniform
Exchange bros adapt to life in Indiana
"From the barren mountains of Balochistan..."
"A prom for our friends with special needs"
Plus, Vidya finally gets her hands on "the infamous funnel cake."
"One heck of a roller coaster"
Indonesian focused on impact in WA
Seniors and children provide lessons to take back to Africa
Yoong Wen's International Education Week in May
Jordanian named "True Varsity"
Filipino finishing strong in Oklahoma
Interview with Alumnus James Sifuna (YES 2015/16)
Virtual Exchange project peeks inside 6 countries' classrooms
YES Student of the Month (March 2022)
YES Student of the Month (April 2022)
Pakistani puts up a 200
Nigerian becomes winter's biggest fan
Change of weather, change of sports, change of scenery
Don't miss Malaysian's video!
Epic father-daughter hike
Four scholarship students recognized
Givani gets Washington classmates dancin'
Henna, dance, and a beautiful Arizona backdrop
Determined Khalid peddles past competition
Even PE got some IEW
YES Student of the Month, December 2021
Compulsory mascot photo inside
PAX/YES alumna introduces English program in Albania
Can't take these two anywhere...
West Sumatran folklore first in Washington?
Ghanaian makes friends and the newspaper
The perspective of an exchange student
YES Student of the Month, November 2021
"I feared I would freeze to death (not really, of course, hehe)"
Pakistani style
More adorable photos inside
A Turkish student's warm welcome to the heartland
Felicia's first days full of small cultural treasures
YES Student of the Month, October 2021
End-of-year thoughts
Four standout teens' standout years
Malian invested in the experience
FLEX/YES students team up with American teens for mental health
Six students, six languages
Kenyan remembers like it was yesterday
Important lessons on exchange
Always plenty of thanks to go around for an exchange student
Meet PAX's nomination
PAX's Student of the Month nominee
Bulgaria through Ralitsa's eyes [image: Destination Management Bulgaria]
A close look at Bengali New Year
Muhammad gives us a private tour
"Ola" gives us a primer
Indonesian shows us around his province
And some stunning scenery to boot
Alum talks complicated Christmas emotions
Oh, sweater weather
Former students pass on words of wisdom
Turkish and Indonesian slang
#NoTechMoFun
Host sisters connect Indonesia, Pakistan, and America
Turks and Texans: commonalities?
Stereotypes true? Fifi explores.
Indonesian introduces Muslim holy month
Quarantined Egyptian with time to reflect
Cookies for a cause
Hamad's 75+ presentations for International Education Week
Libyan's hard work pays off
A fun weekend without smart phones?
More to the FFA than the name implies
Watch out now!
Sharing culture and making friends
What didn't Lois do?
First national park visit
Step by step
Look out, dance floor!
94 International Education Week presentations
Aya on International Education Week
Aleksis on top of IEW
Syed falling right into autumn
Pakistani amazed at "PAX teamwork"
Learning about the Navajo
Regional Development Manager challenges students
A lot of firsts for Neha
50 volunteer hours in two months
Cheraine getting involved in Indiana
Filipino settlin' in out in Washington
Hope of the future
Cakra's long list of achievements
The meaning of "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika"
Indiana community enjoys Bengali-filled week
Thai finds her path
"Borno" enrolled in one-of-a-kind class
Kosovar heads to mother-daughter camp
Hiking, tacos, football, apple picking: all crucial
Celebrating Indonesia’s Independence Day in Indiana
Unique American experience for Egyptian
Year hopping right along for Saudi and Japanese students
Unique cultural experiences in Arizona
Yasmeen makes use of English skills back in Israel
PAX/YES alumna truly living YES program goals
Honorary Michigander draws attention with artistic ability
Pakistani chosen for Future Farmers of America convention
Jessy from Egypt shares culture at local festival
Bayu as impressive an alum as PAX student
Indonesian writes children's books
Pakistani and host dad never tire of helping environment
Natalie recounts touch and go relationship with Gidget the dog
Swim like an Egyptian?
Going above and beyond during International Education Week
Teaming up with United Way in Vermont
Smells like family in Tennessee
An important lesson from wrestling