By Sai Charan Tharmani (YES 2021-2022, India, placed by AFS-USA in Seattle, WA)

I am very glad to share about the start of this year 2022. I have started this year full of joy and fun. I went on a trip to Boise, Idaho with my host family. I experienced the snow for the first time in my life and had fun with it and am excited to experience more learning in the rest of my YES year. I want to continue with this same spirit that I have had in the past year through my academics, extracurricular, and community activities.

During our trip to Boise, we visited museums like the Boise Art Museum and Idaho State History Museum. Also, we visited the State Capitol in Downtown Boise. I had a good time with my family there and I came to know a few things that I had never heard of or experienced in the American lifestyle and family relations. The best part of the trip was the family dinner with my host mom’s family. I am also looking forward to learning more about American history and policy making by attending the Civic Education workshop in Washington DC during the spring. During the school year, I have been awarded perfect attendance and Honor Roll for this Semester by my host school and hope to continue with it in the coming semester.

As part of the community engagement activities from my church, I participated in a march on Martin Luther King Day to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who is one of the phenomenal civil rights leaders of the United States. I was so proud to be part of the march and to know more about him.

I am grateful to the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for selecting me to be a part of the YES Program and making me a change maker.