By Yulida Safitri, YES 2005-2006, Indonesia, hosted by AFS-USA in Austin, TX

I heard this so many times, that being an exchange student is a life-changing experience. Until I became one, myself. I was a YES Student, in 2005 until 2006. I stayed with wonderful host-parents -  Dick Davis and Robin Schneider- in Austin, Texas.

Initially I thought that our relationship would be just a formal relationship and that we would grow apart after I went back to Indonesia after completing the YES program. But it turned out that they really became my "second parents" in life. We met again in 2008, when they invited me to join them on their trip in Southeast Asia. They first came to Pontianak, my home town, to meet my entire family and spend some days in our home. I couldn't believe how well it went, even with the language barriers. It was wonderful to see both sets of my parents under the same roof and getting to know each other.

Another several years passedand life continued on. I got married in March 2012 and my host mom, Robin, made the trip. She joined for the entire ceremony. She even wore a complete set of Kebaya (Javanese Traditional Clothes) with the hair-do, and she danced together with my family and relatives. It was quite the wedding reception! But the one thing I will never forget is how she was crying during my wedding ceremony. Afterwards she just hugged me, congratulated me, and we shared tears of joy. For me, it felt exactly the same as getting a blessing from my natural mom.

Again time passed but we remained close. In December 2015, I met both Robin and Dick in Thailand for a ten day trip. This time I brought my two year old daughter with me! I was nervous about how my daughter would act with them but during that trip they truly became her grand parents. It was a wonderful trip for all of us.  

Looking back I can see how my host parents were such a big influence in my life. They impacted my way of thinking and my attitude about life in general. They inspired me and I look up to them as I look up to my biological parents. I can proudly say that they are my parents too. We might be thousands of miles apart, but in the moments that we meet again it is as if we had never been apart. Through the YES program I met my wonderful host parents, who inspired me to do what I do now. I know that I always have a home in the U.S.