Can you give me some advice?

Sara: If you get the chance - go for it! You won't regret it. If you need advice get in contact with another AFSer. Making contacts is the first step. And remember, make sure you are armed with as many questions as possible - the only silly question is an unasked one!

Suit-Keen: I encourage any Pacific Islander who is thinking about becoming an AFS Exchange student to take this opportunity to share our multi-cultural backgrounds with the whole world. I know that money does not just fall into your pocket for a programme like this, but I know that it is possible otherwise I would not be in Denmark right now as an exchange student. If you work hard enough you will be rewarded for your efforts. Going on an experience like this will change your life forever as you learn more about your own culture, another culture and also you will learn a lot of things about yourself which maybe you would not learn without an opportunity like this. I think it is a perfect opportunity to set you up for your next step in life. If you are unsure about what you want to do in the future then a year away from home could be the answer you are looking for.

Italia: I would advise other PI students who go to make the most of your time there as it goes so fast, but the memories last forever - a cliché I know but afterwards you think of things you wish you had done at the time. Choose a non-English speaking country if you can - you get a lot more satisfaction out of it. True, you have to work harder and it's not all holiday but you do get a lot more out of the experience.

Was it hard to live away from family?

Sara: Yes and No. Understandably, my first thought was "eek South Africa is so dangerous I might not come back alive!" And Johannesburg is known as a crime capital. But it wasn't my first time to live away from home, given I had lived in Christchurch and Fiji for six months prior to leaving for South Africa. It will vary for each applicant. If it will be your first time away from home, it may be difficult but you will make friends quickly and you will have the support of a wonderful host family.

Veialu: On the one hand, it was very exciting having that independence away from my family. I felt free and invincible. But on the other hand, I wanted to share all my experiences with the people I loved and missed - even if it was just to say, "Hey mum, I tried this unusual kind of food yesterday". A phone card came in very handy! You soon figure out how to stay in touch with them without spending too much money. Today, it's even cheaper and easier with the Internet. You can get free email accounts from yahoo, hotmail and Gmail.

How much does it cost?

Full details of costs for all programmes can be found on the AFS New Zealand website www.afs.org.nz

Make sure you have a look at the scholarships and grants that are available to participants while you are there

What countries can I go to?

AFS New Zealand offers 38 destinations across the globe: from Argentina to Venezuela

Find out more about individual countries here.

What programmes are available?

AFS has something to suit you! Choose from these programmes:

Year programme (academic year)

Enjoy the ultimate AFS experience and fully integrate into another culture, as you live with a host family and attend a local high school as a full-time student.

Semester programme (5-6months)

A shorter variation of the year programme, you live with a host family and attend a local high school as a full-time student.

Intensive programme (1-2 months over the summer holidays)

You live with a host family and attend a local high school. Great for students who want an authentic overseas experience, but are unable to take a long term break from their studies or other commitments.

18 plus community service programme (6 months)

You will live with a host family and work as a volunteer in a non-government, community-based organisation.

AFS offers good support before, during and after the experience, ensuring peace of mind for you and your parents. Click here for more information, or call AFS on 0800 600 300

How did you find being a Pacific person on AFS?

Suit-Keen: Being a Pacific Island student on a trip like this is a very unique thing. I feel even prouder of my culture now that I live within a culture which has rarely heard of Samoa or any of the Pacific Islands. So being able to tell them a bit about where Samoa is and sharing a bit about our culture is an awesome thing, I get to share with others a culture which is very unique and special. The best thing about being a Pacific islander here is that there is no other one like me (that I know of) and that makes me feel unique and one of a kind! Being a Pacific islander from New Zealand means that I can share more than one culture which others in Europe have not maybe heard of before and I know that not many pacific islanders get this kind of experience so I am very grateful that I have been given this wonderful experience.

How did your family feel about you going on AFS?

Suit-Keen: My mother and my god-father were actually the ones who encourage me to apply for AFS in the first place and they were the last ones to give me the extra push to apply. So me applying to leave for a whole year didn't really come to them as a shock. We originally applyed without really expecting anything so when I was accepted it took a while to actually sink in that I was going to be living in another country for a whole year. After I was accepted and found out I was going to Denmark my family was very supportive of me and I know they would be behind me every step of the way. I don't think that they were worried about me not coming back to New Zealand so they let me go very easily knowing that I would be back in year safe and sound as a brand new changed Suit-Keen. I know that my family miss me very much back home and I know they are looking forward to me coming home just as much as I am.

Do you have any regrets about doing AFS?

Suit-Keen: I have no regrets at all about doing AFS. This year has really changed my life and I am a complete different person now to how I was when I left New Zealand. You don't just learn about another culture, you also learn how to live in that culture, accept it and experience the feeling of belonging to another culture. I have no regrets because without this experience I wouldn't be the person I am today.