This month AFS-USA is pleased to spotlight Susan Davis of the East Metro team, who has been an AFS Volunteer since 1970. Congratulations Sue!
We asked her some questions about her experiences with AFS over the past 48 years.
How did you learn about AFS and what prompted you to get involved?
Our six-year-old daughter came home after a Brownie Girl Scout meeting. She said, “A boy from another country told us stories and he was really nice.” She also had info about AFS wanting host families at our high school. AFS is contagious—my family has hosted 7 year students and numerous short term. Since then our daughter has hosted 4 students at her high school, too.
What keeps you coming back to volunteer each year?
Making new friends from all over the world as well as new local friends. I want to continue exposing my children, grandchildren and friends to the “wonderful world of AFS,” working for peace and understanding. Because of AFS my family has traveled to many countries as high school students, college students, military and visitors to see our AFS students.
What’s a typical volunteer ‘shift’ like for you?
There is rarely a day that there isn’t some AFS event or communication happening. I work with the local high schools—hosting 7 students this year. Two of my schools host international weekends, hosting 12-15 students, doing presentations in classrooms. (This made me think—over 48 years I have met and placed some 244 students!) AFS is the most respected program in my schools. AFS students are always welcomed and recognized.
What have you learned or how have you been personally affected from your experience with AFS?
I grew up on a small farm with a Swedish immigrant family (eating lutefisk and letsa). Never did I imagine where the AFS world would take me! In 4-H, I met a visitor from Belgium—WOW, curiosity and adventure! To sum it all up many years later, I have learned that wherever you are from, “We’re more alike than different.”
What’s the best thing or funniest thing that’s happened to you while volunteering with AFS?
Best thing—we are still in contact with our students and many, many others. We went to Rio, Brazil where we were attendants in Silvia and Keko’s wedding. Yes, we were known as “Keko’s American Family.” It was a summer surprise: who’s coming to visit?
Funniest Thing—we were at an AFS event and each student had to introduce their host family. Cenqiz from Turkey said, “this is my host father and he is a business man, this is my host mother and she is a horse.” Now look carefully—horse nurse. Everyone laughed, even Cengiz. AFS has a sense of humor too!
What do you want to say to people who might be interested in volunteering with AFS?
Open your heart and home to the greatest adventure you could ever imagine. Be prepared for tears when the AFS year ends, but then you can start all over again!
What’s one thing AFS Volunteers and Staff don’t know about you?
My father and his two brothers were inducted into the US infantry in February, 1918 during WWI. My uncle Ivar went overseas on May 18, 1918 as a member of the Co. B 130th inf. He saw active service on the Verdun and Meuse-Argonne and was wounded on October 27, 1918. He was cared for by AFS Volunteer medics and taken to the established American Hospital in Paris. You know the rest of the story! This nomination is a memorial to my Uncle Ivar.