Post by AFS Intercultural Programs

55 Years of a Family United by AFS: From Aerograms to the 2026 World Cup How long does an exchange year really last? For the Johnson family from Kansas City and Lidia Sluka from Argentina, the answer is simple: it lasts a lifetime and spans generations. In 1970, Lidia left Tucumán, Argentina, to live her AFS year in the United States. 55 years later, thirteen members of both families reunited at the 2026 World Cup to cheer together for Argentina's victory against Algeria. This story began with the host mother, Vonda "Mom" Johnson. She kept the connection alive using those thin blue international paper letters, called aerograms. Over the decades, those paper letters turned into a permanent family bond that shaped the next generations: 🔹 Inspired by Lidia, her two sons also became AFS exchange students in Oregon and Japan. On the American side, the Johnson grandchildren spent time living and studying in Argentina. 🔹 One of Lidia's sons married a woman from Kansas City. Today, he works at the company run by David Johnson, Lidia's American host brother. 🔹 The families are already planning their next trip to introduce Vonda's great-grandchildren to Argentina. Looking at the old photos and seeing the two families mixed together in the stadium stands, there is only one feeling: "Who would have thought that a decision in 1970 would change the lives of so many people?". Swipe left to see the before and after of this global family! ➡️