Cultural Exchange Experience Changed Her Life Forever -Imane Karroumi

Elated about her great experience in the United States, Imane Karroumi, a student from the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program, published an excellent op-ed in the Huffington post last Thursday.

“The lessons I learned will stay with me forever and my belief in cultural exchange will never leave me. This is how we can really learn about others.” Originally from Morocco, Karroumi came to Rhode Island as part of the YES program. She is a great example of the increased cultural exchange and international diplomacy focus of the Obama administration. The administration is spending and allocating millions of dollars for programs like YES, Au Pairs, Study Abroad and others to increase foreign relations.

In the op-ed published by the Huffington Post, Karroumi tells how her experiences with religious diversity and political activism are just two of the various aspects of her time in the U.S. that she will keep with her for years to come:

“Every time I think about my host family, my local coordinator, friends, teachers or fellow volunteers, I cannot help but get emotional. They did so much for me. My host family gave me a place in their hearts and minds. My local coordinator was always there for me whenever I needed her, always making sure that I was adjusting and enjoying my stay here. My teachers and friends have volunteered to help me in the academics and took my situation in consideration whenever I did not understand something that was common knowledge to the other students. The volunteers I worked with tried to make my experience enjoyable and taught me all I needed to know.”

Karroumi and others have extraordinary experiences everyday because of the generous and loving families willing to open their homes and their hearts to young adults from all parts of the world. In addition to the YES program, the Au Pair program is another cultural exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Au Pairs are young adults who come to the U.S. and provide child care to host families in exchange for room and board and a small stipend.