ICES Blog | Brenda Padilla Ericksen (5)

Brenda Padilla Ericksen

Brenda is the founder of GAP Academy, where J-1 and F-1 students gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to thrive in the USA. She provides cultural diversity and intercultural competence training for US exchange programs, sending organizations worldwide and personnel at multinational companies. Brenda has a Spanish Degree from Western Washington University and has been immersed in cultural diversity for over 30 years as a teacher, journalist and corporate trainer. She is from Seattle, Washington and has lived and worked in Spain for 30 years where she has raised four daughters. She is a former international student (Spain & Norway), host mother (Thailand, France, Austria & USA), and the mother of daughters who exchanged to France, Canada, USA, South Korea & Nepal.

Recent Posts

By Brenda Padilla Ericksen On August 21, 2020

Let the Exchanges Begin!

From my ICES lookout post in Europe, I’m scanning the news: what’s happening with student exchange? Is anyone going to don a mask...

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Tags: Cultural Exchange, Host an exchange student

By Brenda Padilla Ericksen On August 7, 2020

15 Reasons to Host a Student from Spain

Wouldn’t it be fun to have a good friend in Spain?

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Tags: Host Families, Exchange Student, Host an exchange student,

By Brenda Padilla Ericksen On July 24, 2020

How to Master a Language (the fun, fascinating way)

There’s a difference between learning a language and acquiring a language–in a natural way:

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Tags: Exchange Student, Study Abroad, Travel,

By Brenda Padilla Ericksen On July 10, 2020

Empty Nesters: Are they “good” host parents?

Every year hundreds of foreign exchange students fill the empty nests of veteran parents. Is the experience mutually satisfying?

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Tags: Host Families, Exchange Student, Host an exchange student

By Brenda Padilla Ericksen On June 19, 2020

Americans do the Strangest Things...

I love to ask foreigners what they think of Americans. But how can we get them to tell us what they’re really thinking? Here are...

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Tags: Cultural Exchange, Exchange Student, Travel,

By Brenda Padilla Ericksen On June 5, 2020

A Guide to Parenting Around the World

When my oldest daughter was just two months old, my Spanish husband and I liquidated our life in Seattle and moved to Spain with...

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Tags: Host Families, Cultural Exchange, Exchange Student,

By Brenda Padilla Ericksen On May 15, 2020

Culture in the Kitchen: Spanish Omelette

What is a Spanish Omelette? It’s not like an omelette in the USA. So, here’s a hint: it’s called “tortilla de patata” or “potato...

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Tags: Host Families, Cultural Exchange, Exchange Student,

By Brenda Padilla Ericksen On April 27, 2020

Coronavirus Quarantine: Teach Your Kids How to Travel Virtually

Has quarantine homeschooling pushed you to your limits? Why not put the schoolbooks away and take your kids on a virtual trip...

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Tags: Sheltering Tips, Kids, Travel,

By Brenda Padilla Ericksen On April 5, 2020

Four Reasons Why Youth Exchange is More Important Than Ever

Can you imagine having all your kids studying abroad right when the coronavirus pandemic breaks out? That’s what happened to me:...

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Tags: Host Families, Cultural Exchange, Exchange Student,

By Brenda Padilla Ericksen On February 7, 2020

What's the Best Way to Give Feedback to a Foreigner?

Our culture conditions the way we give feedback to other people. This is one of the fascinating lessons we can explore with...

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Tags: Host Families, Exchange Student