Embarking on a new adventure can feel a little daunting, and sometimes downright scary. This is true of exchange students waiting to set foot on American soil, but it can also be true of host parents, anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new family member! Host mom Sue...

When Tina and Thomas McNeil agreed to welcome 16 year old Diego from Spain into their home, they knew it meant more than housing a guest: they were adding a member of the family! Host brothers Tate and Troy even agreed to share a room so that Diego could have his own....

JANUARY - it's 30 days packed with new resolutions, goals, dreams and commitments! An entire month of "I'm ready!" and "this is the year!" and "let's DO this!" But as hasty resolutions fall by the wayside, we tend to become wiser about our Januaries. Sure, we may...

No matter where we come from, what we look like or what language we speak, holiday traditions are sure to take a central role in our cultural identity. That's what's so special about sharing life with an exchange student during this time of year! Host families and...

Local Coordinators are truly the unsung heroes of student exchange: they find host families, mentor students, and offer seamless support throughout the exchange year. The gift they give students and families during this time is priceless! But it doesn't end there....

We hear story after story of lives radically altered because of ONE simple decision: to study abroad as an exchange student. When a family opens their home to host, they're not just welcoming a student, they're also opening the door to endless possibilities! With...

The long flight from Germany is over. Henrik's smiling host family has collected his luggage, and in the quiet of his room he unpacks old relics into his new life. But what happens next?  We often talk about the benefit of exchange for the students. Next, we'll talk...

Austrian student Kathi Schedl came as an exchange student in 2015, and 10 months later she left what had become a second home in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Back home in Austria, Kathi wrote a school essay answering the question, "Is it worth it to spend a year studying...

In November, the world pauses to reflect upon the value and impact of "global learning." International Education Week, November 13-17, engages world leaders from more than 100 countries who pledge support of one unifying goal: to promote intercultural growth,...

October 31 is a highly anticipated day for exchange students, who can't wait to celebrate "American Halloween." Like many US traditions, however, the American celebration of Halloween is actually a blend of historical and cultural influences, none of which originated...

An exchange year is a significant time of growth, and many students continue to unpack its full weight and meaning even years after it ends! We asked three students to reflect upon the best year of their life, and their advice is priceless! Whether we work with...

Dear Laura, it has been my honor to be your dad this past year. I don't think you realize the impact you have had on me and my family. It takes a lot of courage and a big leap of faith for a young lady to leave her home, family and friends and come to a foreign...

We are a unique exchange organization where PEOPLE come first. That may be a peculiar way to begin, but it’s exactly this belief that started iE in 2002. We knew the significance of an exchange year, and the common pitfalls. But what if there could be a better way?...

Exchange students accept a special responsibility to be ambassadors to their communities, tasked with the important job of representing their country to those they meet. We couldn't be more proud of Pablo from Spain, who joined other international students to tangibly...

Natural disasters don't typically rank at the top of an exchange student's bucket list! You can be sure that Hurricane Harvey took these four exchange students by surprise. But when much is lost, oddly enough, there is much to be gained in the aftermath. Johanna from...

Today, September 21, the exchange student community joins the world in prioritizing peace. The International Day of Peace, or "Peace Day," is globally recognized as a day for all humanity to commit to upholding peace above all differences, and to contribute to...

Lea Radomski, an exchange student from Germany, arrived in Cypress, TX just weeks before Hurricane Harvey. Ironically, Lea left behind the devastation of a recent flood in her German hometown. Below she gives us a glimpse of her experience with her host family during...

Hello, my name is Joey, and I’m a German exchange student who was in the USA for a semester. About 4 and a half years ago, I took this one amazing journey that changed my whole life. When I first started thinking about becoming an exchange student, it wasn’t really...

Exchange Student’s Family Opens Their Doors to American Hosts  Guest blog by Mindy O’Bannon, Host Mom in Houston The thing about taking a long-awaited trip abroad to experience another culture and all the history that comes with it is you can't really process it all...

If "home is where the heart is," then exchange students Johanna from Germany and Jade from South Africa have found new roots - and a new home - in a small town neither girl could have guessed would so quickly captivate their hearts. "Jenison is a very friendly...

While many central Texans unwind during the last lazy days of summer, Teal Scott, an exchange student coordinator for iE-USA, is working overtime. "We have over 35 students left looking for a host home before August 31," shares Teal, "and I know so many of the...