The foreign exchange program brings students from all over the world to the U.S. with the goal of increasing cultural awareness and openness both stateside and abroad. For many students, Bowman said, the trip can be a great way for students to connect with cultures in which they are interested.

In May 2000, Jane Mirandette found herself in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, semi-retired and owning a bed and breakfast hotel. She realized quickly that there were no children with books in their hands. [...] Fast-forward to November, 2015. The San Juan del Sur Biblioteca, which is supported by donations, was about to celebrate its 14th anniversary.

For the past three weeks, guided by faculty from Harvard University and the University of Antioquia, School of Medicine, 16 medical and public health students, eight from the U.S. and eight from Colombia, have been engaged in a health diplomacy exchange through a platform of experiential learning and problem-solving.

Safa Hajjaj is on her way home to Morocco, having come to the US in September 2014 as an Atlas Corps fellow at the Meridian International Center in Washington, DC. Dedicated to addressing critical social issues, Atlas Corps, according to its website, "develops leaders, strengthens organizations and promotes innovation through an overseas fellowship of skilled professionals."

Although 2015 had its fair share of international tragedy, tourism worldwide continued on an upward trend. International tourism arrivals — or the number of people visiting countries other than their own — grew 4.4% to 1.18 billion last year, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Council for Educational Travel, USA is seeking volunteer host families in Laughlin, Needles and communities throughout Arizona to open doors to their homes, their communities and their hearts for international high school exchange students. Students from Europe, South America, and Asia are now being placed in volunteer host families for the 2016-17 academic year.

In 2015, 45.5 million visitors came to the City of Angels, an increase of 1.3 million from the previous year, tourism officials announced Monday. The numbers marked the fifth consecutive year of growth, according to Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board. Garcetti has set a goal of boosting tourism to Los Angeles to 50 million people per year by 2020.

While drinking tea by the Bosphorus a few days ago, I looked up and there sailing past me was the Moskva, a formidable-looking Russian missile cruiser returning home from its mission in support of Russia's Syrian pal, Bashar Assad. [...]Turkey possesses the political stability, economic vitality and military strength to play an ever greater role in its tumultuous region and beyond.