Stephen Paul Mataipule went to Brazil in 2001 on the Year Programme.

I decided to go on an AFS exchange after someone came to my school at the time, Porirua College, and started handing out pamphlets. I'm not too sure why I chose Brazil, I had seen ads and the carnivals on TV and so I thought it would be a good place to go. For me the highlight of my exchange was just being part of a different side of life, meeting new people, and participating in Brazilian life in general.

You ask me to describe an unforgettable moment or event, but everything was awesome for me. I loved everything and anything, but being in a loving family environment during Christmas and New Years was unforgettable. The whole experience caused me to became a whole lot more independent. I realised how good life is in New Zealand compared to a lot of people in Brazil. I would say to those interested or intending to go on an AFS exchange programme "just do it. You're either gonna love it or not, but you won't know until you try"!