Focus on Honduras

  Honduras

Tegucigalpa

Durations of Program: 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Dates: inquire for the specific dates

Description: Honduras is known for its natural beauty and relaxed pace of life, combined with thousands of years of history and a promising future. It has the world's second-largest barrier reef, dazzling Caribbean islands, colonial-style towns, and a mountain interior on the west. Considered one of Latin America's best-kept secrets, Honduras is world famous for its archeological sites, including 3,000-year-old Mayan ruins and the mysterious rediscovered city of Copán. But you will discover other wealth: the people. They will want to get to know you and will invite you to stay and share their home or a meal. Honduran cuisine is varied as each region has its own unique culinary dishes (from seafood to fried plátanos, frijoles, and tortillas, and a wide variety of colorful tropical fruits). This means you'll learn quickly that sharing mealtimes with your family is an important part of daily life. And you'll come to recognize the beautiful flag that can be seen in Independence parades, local celebrations or carnivals, and soccer games.

Highlights: School runs from February through November, with a vacation for Easter, national holidays, and during December and January. You will attend classes in either the morning or afternoon, with courses in language, sociology, math, art, and natural sciences. You'll wear a uniform and your teacher will change rooms while you remain with your classmates. Attending school is an integral part of your experience and is the best way to make friends and to get to know everyday life as a Honduran teen. AFS Exchange Students are placed in junior or senior year, based upon academic record. Seniors are required to do community service projects, which gives you the opportunity to meet and help people, and learn about the community. While students here are serious about their studies, there are plenty of opportunities out of school to get to know your new friends. Teens like to hang out in groups, watch movies, or go dancing. AFS Honduras also provides three orientations during your stay to acquaint you with the country's life and culture; one of the most exciting orientations is held at the ancient Mayan city of Copán.

Cost in US$: $7,900 - $8,900

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview Required
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home
• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

AFS Intercultural Programs's Mission Statement: AFS Intercultural Programs is an international, voluntary, non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world. AFS Intercultural Programs is a leader in intercultural learning and offers international exchange programs in over 50 countries around the world through independent, not-for-profit AFS organizations, each with a network of volunteers, a professionally staffed office, and headed up by a volunteer board.

Year Founded: 1947