iE-USA student & Host family Blog
Experiencing the world with iE!
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
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!)
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
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
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
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
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...
Experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with iE’s Summer Immersion Programs
Have you always wanted to become a foreign exchange student- but never knew quite how to do it? Keep reading to learn more about traveling abroad with iE's Summer Immersion Programs! To learn more about iE's Summer Immersion Programs, check out our website! What are...
5 Surprising Benefits of Hosting an Exchange Student!
There are many reasons for hosting an international exchange student! Check out this article to take a look at some surprising benefits that come along with hosting.
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 7 Reasons to Host a German Exchange Student!
Immerse yourself in German culture by hosting an exchange student from Germany! Learn new foods, language, and more!
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?
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!
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
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
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...
A Fitting Tribute: Moana in America
It's not every day that you run across someone who can so clearly capture the heart and soul of an experience in a way that it can be shared with, and felt by, others. Fortunately for us, iE student, Moana's host parents, Erik and Kaylee are up to the task! Check out...
A Farm-Fresh Adventure for Max
When exchange students dream of their future host home, “farm life” often isn’t on their radar! Even so, Max from Germany feels he has found his perfect second home exploring farm life with the fun-loving Erb family. Life on the Farm Jeremy and Laura Erb own and...
Oregon’s “Ray” of Sunshine
Ray Hernandez is outgoing, magnetic, and a gifted guitarist. Like any exchange student, he had some doubts about leaving the familiarity of his home in Spain to embrace the unknown of an exchange year in the US. Fortunately for Ray, that one leap of faith has...
We LOVE Our Host Families!
As Valentine’s day approaches, let us give credit where credit is due: our incredible host families! WE LOVE YOU! We appreciate each and every host family who has joined us in this journey – let us share just a few of their stories with you! It’s a Twin Thing! What’s...