American Councils for International Education North Macedonia

22/12/2025

Exchange student Annie Duan had the amazing opportunity to experience and learn about art history in Italy with her host school, "Orce Nikolov". Here is what she said:

"From the intricate glass murals in Milan to the powerful voices of opera singers in Rome, I got to explore valuable pieces of history preserved through artistry and incredible craftsmanship from the Macedonian perspective. This trip was especially empowering to my journey here in Macedonia because I got to grow stronger relationships with my peers and school community.

Cultural exchanges open numerous opportunities for students to learn and grow while abroad and forge connections that last a lifetime.

17/12/2025

Exchange students meeting international university students in Skopje. The conversations were meaningful and the atmosphere friendly and fun. We wish to extend our gratitude to PhD Marijana Klemenchich and the IBU team for hosting us and allowing for wonderful experience sharing and making broader connections in the community.

10/12/2025

Landen Satterfield, currently on exchange in Skopje, recaps his fond memory of helping his local family pick grapes in Prespa, Albania:

I went to Albania to help my host grandmother with the grape harvest. I was stunned by its natural beauty. Over the shared meal, I showed HBaba pictures of my family, my mother and father,
stepmother and stepfather, and all my siblings. It was a lot for her to take in. She looked at me with genuine confusion, trying to understand how one person could have two sets of parents. Her
questions were direct ones I’d never thought to ask myself, and though some might have taken offense, I didn’t. Instead, I found it fascinating to see my life through her eyes, shaped by a completely different world.

The next morning we woke early for the grape harvest. On the mountain vineyard overlooking the lake, I expected a few vines but instead found thousands, heavy with fruit. We picked and carried for hours, pausing only for breakfast in the shade, and by midday had gathered nearly two tons of red and white grapes for wine and rakia.

Later, walking along the lake with views of Greece and Macedonia, cows and sheep dotted the fields. The second day, I woke to an amazing breakfast and a glass of fresh milk from the cow out back, Belka. To my surprise, Baba asked me to stay longer. She had grown so fond of me that she wanted me to remain and help take care of the baby calf. Her warmth caught me off guard, and I felt grateful to have made such a genuine connection. What began as a simple grape harvest became a much deeper exchange of work, language, and kindness.

Through this experience, I learned that people’s lived histories—shaped by everything from communism to the present day—deeply influence how they express care and connection. I realized that affection isn’t always shown through immediate friendliness, but through shared effort and the willingness to help. But finally, I learned that communication doesn't always have to be verbal, and oftentimes the most important things are communicated with no words at all.

22/10/2025

YES Abroad student Alisha Reynolds sheds light on the beauty of cultural exchange in more than one aspect. Below her impressions after attending a jazz concert in Skopje.

On October 1st, my host mom, her two friends, and I attended a National Jazz Orchestra concert. The concert featured music composed by Kurt Rosenwinkel, a renowned American guitarist, and Vladimir Nikolov, Macedonian composer and conductor of the National Orchestra. While naturally an enjoyable outing, I felt the concert held even greater value as a metaphor for the importance of cultural exchange. Two men, from different backgrounds, collaborated to create something that will outlive them, their careers, and their engagement with it. This product could easily have been the end of their interaction. However, because of their lasting impressions of mutual merit and respect, they continue to work together. This interaction embodies the dream of exchange, the creation of a product of value (fantastic music and performance), and relationships that continue to influence communities far beyond the end of a program. Thus, I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to attend this event and engage with yet another beautiful aspect of North Macedonia.

22/09/2025

The YES Abroad cohort 2025-2026 visited Struga and Vevcani during their first language trip.
In addition to learning and using the language with locals, students visited the Struga Museum "Dr. Nikola Nezlobinski" and were given insight into the flora and fauna in the Struga area. Students also learned how to dance 'oro' and were adorned in folk costumes typical for various regions in the country.

03/09/2025

U.S. high school exchange students on the YES Abroad Program had the opportunity to meet and learn valuable tips and life lessons from US Embassy staff in Skopje, including Ambassador Angela P. Aggeler. This has further motivated them to fully embrace the year ahead and work towards making a lasting impact in the local community.

Welcome to our Kennedy-Lugar YES Abroad exchange program participants, who recently arrived in the country and will spend a year attending high school in Skopje. Ambassador Aggeler met with the students during their visit to the Embassy, encouraging them to embrace this opportunity and create lasting memories from their time here.

21/07/2025

Збогатете го Вашето семејство со ученик на размена од Соединетите Американски Држави!

Семејствата во Скопје имаат можност да бидат домаќини во времетраење од една учебна година.

Вклучете се во програмата за културна размена и градење единствено искуство на учење и споделување.

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  YES Abroad Програма (Американски средношколци во С. Македонија)Американски средношколци добиваат стипендии засновани на заслуги за да учат и да живеат во странство в....