Kimberly Ginnan has fond memories of hosting an exchange student when she was a child, so she knew she wanted to  provide the same experience for her three girls. When the Ginnan's oldest daughter Gillian was in high school, they decided the time was right! After...

Justin Harvey is a 17 year old from Indiana with a love of maps, countries, and especially German culture. As Justin dove into the language in his high school German class, he dreamed of visiting the country he loved. Meanwhile, halfway acround the world in Germany, a...

When the Brennan family was asked to consider hosting an exchange student - again - they were understandably hesitant. A previous hosting experience hadn't been quite what they expected, and while it was "good" in many ways, it was also a significant adjustment. Could...

German exchange student Lorena Schraub visited Texas in 2013/14. Like most exchange students, acclimating to American culture was both thrilling and sometimes exhausting! In the letter below, she shares her experiences in order to pass on her wisdom to the next...

John and Ranelle Ladbury have hosted for 5 years, and they've already signed up to do it again next year! What brings them back year after year? With their own triplets grown and out of the house, this empty-nest couple found that their home (and their hearts) had...

When Maggie Stephenson was hired to supervise a student placement, she had no idea what was in store!  What she found was a connection to a young Spanish girl that was as strong as family. "Loreto comes to my house every Sunday, she spent Easter with us, I helped her...

Julie Rayhorn has been a Local Coordinator with IE for two years. During that time, she has relished the opportunity to connect with students from different parts of the world! This spring, however, Julie enjoyed a new perk: the roles reversed, and she became the...

When we think of volunteering, we typically envision going outside of ourselves to give something away. Serving at a soup kitchen requires us to leave our normal routine and give time and resources to other people. Picking up trash requires hours in the hot sun....

As an exchange student acclimating to “American life,” there is perhaps nothing more precious than a close-knit group of like-minded friends. Many students find that connection, and so much more, through music and performing arts - proving that ART truly does...

When 16 year old Johanna from Austria boarded a plane for America, she knew she was in for an adventure! But she never could have guessed how quickly a town called Lucas, TX - with the warmth of her host family and the energy of Lovejoy High School - would become a...

What comes to mind when you think of foreign exchange students? Is it cobblestone streets winding through quaint European cities? Is it foreign languages, or interesting international cuisine? To be sure, INTERNATIONAL is what we're all about - but as a nonprofit...

How many international guests is "too many"? If you're the Kitzmiller family, there's no such thing! Carolyn Kitzmiller has worked with exchange students for 7 years, and during this time her family has hosted countless students. "I do it for the relationship," says...

In case you hadn't noticed, the Super Bowl is kind of a big deal. (ha!)  As a national icon of connection and camaraderie (and, oh yeah - FOOTBALL!) families across the nation gather to eat delicious snack food and critique the much anticipated commercials and...

Burnt River may have only 15 students, but this tiny western high school in Eastern Oregon has become an unlikely hub of global interaction, growth, and discovery. And since life in this small town revolves primarily around agriculture, it's fitting that a small but...

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...