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 from Poland 🇵🇱, Julia from Spain, and Amina from Mongolia 🇲🇳 — to share a glimpse into their daily lives. From host family relationships to funny memories, you’ll get an inside look at how they’re adjusting, learning, and making the most of their time in the U.S.

Daria 🇵🇱: “I think at first it was a little bit challenging. The most different was the type of family for me because I never have any sibling and now I have 4. So that was probably the bigger shock for me.

I tried to talk, hanging out with them as much as I can to meet them better. Do the stuff that they like to do or just watch how they doing something that they like.

I think my advice for future student will be to not close yourself in a room, the host family probably would like to meet you more and they would like to spend good time with you and make this experience good and memorable for you. “

Julia 🇪🇸: “One of them is 20 years old, she is in college so I don’t see her much; but, the times we saw her we were laughing all the time, we have a pretty similar sense of humor, and our interest and hobbies are really similar too, so it was so easy to get along with her.

My other host sister is 17, so, one year older than me, I see her everyday and we do a lot of things together. We like to do the same things, we have the same hobbies, so again, it was really easy to get along with her. Living together and doing a lot of things together made our relationship stronger.

So, I would say both of my relationships with my host sisters are really good. They made me feel welcomed since the very beginning and they accepted me as a sister. I’m so happy to have them as host sisters!”

Amina 🇲🇳: “We attend church regularly! From Monday to Thursday, my host sister and I go to seminary in the morning. On Sundays, we participate in church from 12:00 to 2:00 PM. I’ve met so many wonderful people and made a lot of friends. I’m incredibly grateful that I started attending church with my host family!”

Julia 🇪🇸: “Yes! One day, my host sister, host mom, and me were in the living room watching a movie and talking. All of a sudden we look to the kitchen and we saw something that looked like a dog toy (we have two dogs, and one of them is a one year-old puppy, so we thought it was one of her toys), but we didn’t recognize it, and it was weird, so my host mom went to see what it was . . . Nothing similar to a dog toy . . . It was a possum! Our puppy brought us a possum at 10:30 at night!

That night we were all a little bit nervous (because possums act dead when they feel attacked so we didn’t know if it was dead or alive) but now it’s so funny to remember!”

Daria 🇵🇱: “I was sick one day and I was missing my mom’s soup so I asked my host mom if she could make me my favorite chicken soup — what she made was really good, but chicken soup in the U.S. and Polish chicken soup are totally different. I was sad at first, because I couldn’t eat something that tasted like home. I think it’s probably common for a lot of students that food is different than back in home.“

Amina 🇲🇳: “My host family supported me during difficult times by always being there to listen and offer guidance. They made me feel at home by checking in on me, encouraging me, and including me in family activities. Whether it was a tough day at school or feeling homesick, they reassured me and helped me navigate challenges with patience and kindness. Their support made my exchange experience so much easier and more meaningful.”

Amina 🇲🇳: “What I will miss most about my host family is the warmth and love they’ve shown me throughout my time here. From the little everyday moments—like eating dinner together and laughing over inside jokes—to the big adventures we’ve shared, they’ve truly made me feel like part of the family. I’ll miss our late-night talks, the support they’ve given me, and the feeling of home they created for me. No matter where I go, they will always hold a special place in my heart.”