--- title: ICES Blog | ICES description: This blog is our means of sharing what we love most—seeing exchange students, host families, and the global community growing closer together through youth exchange. It’s also a way for us to do what we love to do—provide support to students and host families to help them have the best experience possible, and help those who are not (yet) an exchange student or host family understand why they should consider getting involved. --- [![ices@2x](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/ICES_Logo_%20sm_wht.png?width=77&name=ICES_Logo_%20sm_wht.png)](https://www.icesusa.org/)   - [INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS](https://www.icesusa.org/international-student-exchange-programs/) - [HOST A STUDENT](https://www.icesusa.org/host-a-student-overview/) - [AMERICAN STUDENTS](https://www.icesusa.org/american-student-exchange-programs/) - [WORK WITH US](https://www.icesusa.org/student-exchange-careers-and-partnerships/) - [ABOUT US](https://www.icesusa.org/about-us-overview/) - [CONTACT US](https://www.icesusa.org/contact-ices/) - [BLOG](https://blog.icesusa.org) [Let's Talk](https://blog.icesusa.org/contact)subscribe ### I’d like to learn more about Campaign Creators! # Welcome to Our Blog, It's Good to See You Subscribe to our blog today! ### Pick a topic, any topic. - [Recent Posts](https://blog.icesusa.org) ## ICES ![Picture of ICES](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Logo%20Big.png) ### Recent Posts ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Logo%20Big.png) By [ICES](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/ices) On August 21, 2025 ## [What If Things Get Awkward? Tips for Navigating Early Misunderstandings](https://blog.icesusa.org/what-if-things-get-awkward-tips-for-navigating-early-misunderstandings) Hosting a high school exchange student is the best. But...it can also get awkward. Don’t worry. Awkward moments are normal in the... *( read )* Tags: [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student), [Culture Shock](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Logo%20Big.png) By [ICES](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/ices) On July 24, 2025 ## [12 Ways to Prepare Your Family for Sharing Your Culture with an Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/12-ways-to-prepare-your-family-for-sharing-your-culture-with-an-exchange-student) Hosting a high school exchange student is an adventure. But how can you prepare to share your American culture in a way that... *( read )* Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Youth Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/youth-exchange), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Logo%20Big.png) By [ICES](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/ices) On May 23, 2025 ## [7 Ways Culture Shock Fades and Understanding Grows](https://blog.icesusa.org/7-ways-culture-shock-fades-and-understanding-grows) Hosting a high school exchange student can feel like inviting someone from another planet into your home. There will be [culture...](https://blog.icesusa.org/culture-shock-how-can-you-help) *( read )* Tags: [Culture Shock](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock), [cultural understanding](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-understanding), [american culture](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/american-culture) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Logo%20Big.png) By [ICES](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/ices) On May 9, 2025 ## [Exchange Students Celebrate Their Host Moms](https://blog.icesusa.org/exchange-students-celebrate-their-host-moms) Every year, ICES students arrive in the U.S. with a suitcase full of dreams—and leave with a second family in their hearts. In... *( read )* Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Logo%20Big.png) By [ICES](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/ices) On April 25, 2025 ## [Will Recent Political Changes Affect High School Exchange Students?](https://blog.icesusa.org/will-recent-political-changes-affect-high-school-exchange-students) If you're wondering whether it's still safe to host a high school exchange student in today's political climate, you're not... *( read )* Tags: [Youth Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/youth-exchange), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student), [U.S. Government](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/u-s-government) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Logo%20Big.png) By [ICES](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/ices) On March 7, 2025 ## [The Ultimate Study Abroad Packing List](https://blog.icesusa.org/the-ultimate-study-abroad-packing-list) So, you’re heading abroad for the adventure of a lifetime—exciting! You’ve got your passport, your visa (hopefully), and your... *( read )* Tags: [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student), [Study Abroad](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/study-abroad), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Logo%20Big.png) By [ICES](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/ices) On February 28, 2025 ## [How Are American Traditions Influenced by Global Cultures?](https://blog.icesusa.org/how-are-american-traditions-influenced-by-global-cultures) Exchange students come to experience American culture. But what do they find? From the food we eat to the holidays we celebrate,... *( read )* Tags: [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [cultural understanding](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-understanding), [4th of July](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/4th-of-july), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Logo%20Big.png) By [ICES](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/ices) On June 8, 2024 ## [2024 Bridging Cultures Scholarship Winners](https://blog.icesusa.org/2023-bridging-cultures-scholarship-winners-0) ICES is pleased to invest in our future by providing scholarship money to globally-minded, college-bound teens. This year, we... *( read )* Tags: [Scholarships](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/scholarships), [cultural understanding](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-understanding), [Think global act local](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/think-global-act-local) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Logo%20Big.png) By [ICES](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/ices) On June 8, 2024 ## [3rd Place Winner: Onyinyechi Okonkwo](https://blog.icesusa.org/3rd-place-winner-onyinyechi-okonkwo) Onyinyechi Okonkwo - Richmond, Texas *( read )* Tags: [Scholarships](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/scholarships) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Logo%20Big.png) By [ICES](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/ices) On June 8, 2024 ## [3rd Place Winner: Elisabeth Howell](https://blog.icesusa.org/3rd-place-winner-elisabeth-howell) Elisabeth Howell - Leavenworth, Kansas *( read )* Tags: [Scholarships](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/scholarships) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Logo%20Big.png) By [ICES](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/ices) On June 8, 2024 ## [3rd Place Winner: Kaylah Griggs](https://blog.icesusa.org/3rd-place-winner-kaylah-griggs) Kaylah Griggs - Madera, California *( read )* Tags: [Scholarships](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/scholarships) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Logo%20Big.png) By [ICES](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/ices) On June 8, 2024 ## [3rd Place Winner: Alyssa Pearson](https://blog.icesusa.org/3rd-place-winner-alyssa-pearson) Alyssa Pearson - Oakville, Washington *( read )* Tags: [Scholarships](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/scholarships) [VIEW MORE](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/ices/page/2) ### Posts by Tag - [Cultural Exchange (141)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange) - [Exchange Student (106)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student) - [Host Families (97)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families) - [Host an exchange student (78)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student) - [Youth Exchange (68)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/youth-exchange) ## Subscribe to Our Blog Today! ![Boris\_ICES\_Ads](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Boris_ICES_Ads.png?width=749&height=698&name=Boris_ICES_Ads.png) - [INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS](https://www.icesusa.org/international-student-exchange-programs/) - [HOST A STUDENT](https://www.icesusa.org/host-a-student-overview/) - [AMERICAN STUDENTS](https://www.icesusa.org/american-student-exchange-programs/) - [WORK WITH US](https://www.icesusa.org/student-exchange-careers-and-partnerships/) - [ABOUT US](https://www.icesusa.org/about-us-overview/) - [CONTACT US](https://www.icesusa.org/contact-ices/) - [BLOG](https://blog.icesusa.org/) © 2019 ICES - INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL EXCHANGE SERVICES - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.