Decades of Boats, Buses, and Boarding Passes

Welcome back to The AFS Exchange! We are continuing our series highlighting the people who keep the AFS engine running: our dedicated volunteers. In order for a student to get from their home country to their host community, AFS depends on the support of Travel Volunteers who guide students through bustling airports, navigate tight layovers, and step in to help when a connection is missed. In this episode, we’re exploring the evolution of the Travel Volunteer role, starting nearly 75 years ago. We begin with a journey through the history of AFS student travel- from 1950s ocean liners and cross-country bus trips to the smartphones and streamlined arrival journeys of today. Then, we’re joined by two expert Travel Volunteers, Fevzi Caglarsu and Tyler Henry, from the National Council Travel Advisory Group. They share what it’s actually like to be the “first face” a student sees in the U.S., how they navigate the unexpected with creative flexibility, and why this high-energy, fast-paced role is one of the most rewarding ways to support the AFS mission. Meet the Guests: Fevzi Caglarsu: Dallas Area Team Tyler Henry: Georgia Area Team In this episode, we discuss: How student travel evolved from ocean liners and long-haul buses to modern global flight networks. What Travel Volunteers actually do on the ground (or on the couch). How volunteers think on their feet to keep students safe and moving. How you can join the Travel Volunteer network and what motivated these volunteers to come back year after year. How to get involved: Volunteer Nationally: Current volunteers can learn about national leadership roles via Help & Learning for Volunteers or by emailing askafs@afsusa.org . Not a volunteer yet? Head to afsusa.org/volunteer to get started. More from AFS-USA: 🏠 Host a Student | ✈️ Study Abroad | 🤝 Volunteer | 🏫 For Educators | 📧 Contact the Show | 🎧 Collections

You can listen to Decades of Boats, Buses, and Boarding Passes online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Decades of Boats, Buses, and Boarding Passes is an episode from The AFS Exchange by AFS-USA.

This episode is 34:23 long.

This episode was published on Apr 8, 2026.

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