Spending a year in Mongolia as a high school exchange student is an experience unlike any other. Education in Mongolia tends to be more formal than in the U.S., with a strong emphasis on respect for teachers and academic discipline. After school, Mongolian teens love to spend time with friends, join music or art clubs, or take part in sports—especially horseback riding and wrestling.

Life in the city and countryside can be very different, but in both, people are warm, generous, and curious about visitors. Mongolians are famous for their hospitality—offering tea, a warm smile, and sometimes even their best seat to guests.

The benefit of a year-long exchange program in Mongolia is that you’ll live at a slower pace, surrounded by wide-open skies, deep-rooted traditions, and a tight-knit community. Whether you’re attending a festival in Ulaanbaatar, riding horses across the steppe, or sharing a meal with your host family in their “ger”, you’ll create memories that last a lifetime.