iE-USA student & Host family Blog

Experiencing the world with iE!

Make This Easy, DIY Thankful Tree!

Make This Easy, DIY Thankful Tree!

At its core, Thanksgiving is all about reflecting on what we're thankful for. Thank-fully, gratitude is a universal language, and this is the perfect season to share your own winter holiday traditions. One creative and thoughtful way to recognize Thanksgiving is to...

5 Ways to Embrace the Season with your Exchange Student

5 Ways to Embrace the Season with your Exchange Student

The days between September and November look a little different in every region of the U.S. Further north, you'll see vibrant fall colors as temperatures drop and the leaves change color. Down south, the weather goes from hot to bearable, and the days get shorter. It...

10 Tips for New Exchange Students: Advice from iE Alumni

10 Tips for New Exchange Students: Advice from iE Alumni

Embarking on an exchange year is incredibly exciting. But those first few weeks of transitioning to a new culture, new language, and new home can be daunting for even the most adventurous students. It's always helpful to get some advice from someone who's been in your...

Pauline from Germany for Treasurer!

Pauline from Germany for Treasurer!

For Pauline, 18, from Germany, getting to experience the inner workings of local government was the cherry on top of a successful exchange year in the U.S. Each year, Pauline's host community in northeast Ohio selects a high school student to be  "Treasurer for the...

10 Ways to Share Your America

10 Ways to Share Your America

How do you share your America? For many families in the U.S., the Fourth of July is a time to come together and celebrate with fireworks, sparklers, and red-white-and-blue treats. But it doesn't have to be summertime to celebrate what makes your corner of the country...

Why YOU Should Host (According to Real Host Moms!)

Why YOU Should Host (According to Real Host Moms!)

Mother's Day may have come and gone, but we're always grateful for the amazing host moms and mother figures that make our work possible. By taking the leap and inviting an international exchange student into their families, each host mom will . . . Enrich the lives of...

2023-24 iE-USA Student Recognition Awards

2023-24 iE-USA Student Recognition Awards

The iE-USA Student Recognition Awards recognize students for their outstanding achievements in Academics, Athletics, Community, Volunteering, and as iE Ambassadors. Students currently on exchange in the U.S. were nominated by their host families, Local Coordinators,...

Ending the Year Well

Ending the Year Well

It can be tempting to avoid thinking about the hard goodbyes that the next few weeks will bring. Not to mention that between tests, ceremonies, get-togethers, and more, the end of the school year is a busy time!

Still, it’s worth taking the time to think about how you want to end your exchange experience. Whether you’re a host parent, international student, or local coordinator — How can you end your year on the best note possible?

Your Ticket to the Best Summer Ever

Your Ticket to the Best Summer Ever

Our Summer Immersion Programs in Germany and Spain are the ideal way for 14-18 year-old U.S. teens to experience life in another culture. As part of the program, you’ll spend three weeks living with a host family and experiencing all that these different European cultures have to offer, from nature to historic sites and museums to food. Read on to find out more about the program and how you could apply to go on the adventure of a lifetime.

2022-23 iE-USA Student Recognition Awards

The iE-USA Student Recognition Awards recognize students for their outstanding achievements in Academics, Athletics, Community, Volunteering and as iE Ambassadors. Students currently on exchange in the U.S. were nominated by their host families, Local Coordinators, or...

Like True Siblings

Like True Siblings

The Brown family from Michigan consists of single mom Katrina, her two teenage sons Brennan and Gibson, Goldendoodle Mazie, and, over the years, four international students from Germany and Spain. Katrina Brown has been hosting with International Experience since...

10 Reasons to Host an Exchange Student

10 Reasons to Host an Exchange Student

Updated May 2022 Why host an exchange student? Our tight-knit band of cultural adventurers agree - when they opened their homes to host, they GAINED so much more than they gave. Are you ready for a life-changing adventure, right in your own living room? Consider these...

Top 9 FAQ About Hosting an Exchange Student

Top 9 FAQ About Hosting an Exchange Student

Updated March 2022 So you've been considering hosting a high school exchange student, but have some questions regarding the process. Don't worry! We've gathered the top 9 frequently asked questions about hosting an exchange student: 1. What does our commitment...

FAQ: What is a Double Placement?

FAQ: What is a Double Placement?

Updated February 2022 The double placement was definitely the right way to go for us. Since we don't have any kids of our own, it was like creating an instant family, complete with siblings! Plus, the students leaned on each other at school and had a buddy in the...

Welcome Families: Short-term commitment, BIG impact!

Welcome Families: Short-term commitment, BIG impact!

Updated 7/8/2022 We love sharing the adventure of student exchange! But what if a family can't host for the full school year? Easy! They can help as a welcome family!   What is a "welcome family?" A welcome family hosts a student on a short-term basis at the...

We Say YES

We Say YES

Updated December 2021 From the outside looking in, a family's decision to host an exchange student may seem like a logistical mystery. Most families in our culture would say they feel busy, or at the very least "full," with their own schedules and their own...

Debunking 10 Common Objections to Hosting

Debunking 10 Common Objections to Hosting

Updated November 2021 Everyone seems to agree: hosting an exchange student is enriching, rewarding, and so very fun!  So why do so many people push the pause button? Like anything else, hosting an exchange student comes with a common list of assumptions and...