Tanya Muagututi'a went to U.S.A. in 1997 on the Year Programme.

I went to Shamokin, Pennsylvania and lived with the Peralta Family. This experience was amazing - it showed me the world! Not only did I stay with a Philippino family and learnt a little about their culture, but we shared similarities, their kids being first generation US born and me being a first generation NZ Born Samoan. They were a well-off family, my host father being a Radiolist and my Host Mum working in the office of their clinic, with a huge house for my 5 brothers and sisters, and lots of cars - but they were very humble. I was fortunate that a man in my town chaperoned 5 of us exchange students (a big amount for the small town - pop. 200,000), to visit other cities of the East coast. This was out of the pure kindness of his own heart.

Being a Pacific person on AFS, I felt at the arrival orientation a bit left out. I was Samoan, but was asked a lot about Maori, and no-one was really interested in where Samoa was, let alone New Zealand. My family were already involved AFS before my trip. My sister, Mishelle, went to U.S. 2 years earlier, and we've hosted a number of Japanese short term exchange students from 1985-1987. My advice is go for it! It's an excellent way to see the world, and learn where your place is in NZ and how you can contribute.