iE-USA student & Host family Blog
Experiencing the world with iE!
Cultural Differences and Understanding Part 1: The Culture Factor
It should come as no surprise that we believe hosting an exchange student is a wonderful and life-changing experience. But we also know from years of experience that parenting someone else's teenager, no matter where they're from, can come with unique challenges of...
From Host Sibling to Local Coordinator: How 17-Year-Old Lia Quinones Is Inspiring New Host Families
At 17, Lia Quinones is one of iE’s youngest recruiting local coordinators – but her earliest memory around student exchange was when she was just 13. Her mom, Regional Director Michelle Bakke, saw an ad on Facebook about hosting and asked Lia and her siblings what...
What You Should Know Before Hosting an Exchange Student
Whether it’s your first year or your fortieth, we hope you’ll walk away feeling more confident and prepared for the incredible journey ahead.
Five Ways to Share Your America (No Matter Where You Live!)
Fourth of July is a great time to reflect on what connects and unites our country. Keep reading for five ways to share your America no matter where you live!
Year in Review: Your Favorite Memories from this School Year
It's true what they say about hosting -- it's not just a year in your life, it's a whole lot of life packed into a year! We asked our 2024-25 host families to share their favorite memories from their experience. Scroll through to see the pictures that captured the...
2024-25 Student Recognition Awards
The iE-USA Student Recognition Awards recognize students for their outstanding achievements in Academics, Athletics, Community, Volunteering, and as iE Ambassadors for their region in the U.S. Students currently on exchange in the U.S. were nominated by their host...
Watch Culture Bloom: Spotlight on Lia from Germany!
Lia from Germany has always been interested in art. So when her high school art teacher informed their class about an upcoming visual arts competition in her host community, she knew she wanted to contribute.She submitted two pieces of visual art to the contest — a...
What’s it REALLY like to be an exchange student?
What’s it really like to be an exchange student in the U.S.? Hosting an exchange student is a rewarding experience for everyone involved. But have you ever wondered what it looks like from a student’s perspective? We asked some of our current exchange students — Daria...
5 simple ways to share your love of hosting!
February is the month of love. Whether it’s through a quick smile at a stranger, a cup of tea shared with a loved one, or shoveling the snow from a neighbor’s driveway, we’re reminded to share a little extra warmth and kindness to those around us at this time of...
“Hosting Mara” – Two Generations of Host Families
When Vicki Magnant was a child, her family hosted Julia, an exchange student from Germany. Years later, Vicki’s family is hosting Julia’s daughter, Mara. Vicki was six or seven years old when her family first opened their home to host German exchange students....
“Both of your lives can change for the better”: Hosting in a Single-Parent Home
Like many host families in the digital age, Christine Saladino found out about International Experience through a Facebook group. “Yes, really,” said Saladino. After some time in prayer and consideration, Saladino said, she felt it was the right decision to host. In...
3 Simple (but Meaningful) Ways to Support Your iE Fam this Holiday Season
Just a few of the BEST gifts you can give the host family or international student in your life.
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
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
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...
Two Families, One Mission: You Have What It Takes to Host!
Sometimes it just takes one small nudge to make a life-changing decision. For Jennifer and Jessica Wolfe, it was a Facebook post from International Experience (IE) that got the ball rolling. “I saw an advertisement, and then I forwarded it over to Jess and said, ‘Hey,...
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?