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Kari Owens

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Kari is the National Training Director for International Cultural Exchange Services (ICES). She’s passionate about youth exchange and has experienced it from every angle. In high school, she spent an academic year in Rancagua, Chile as an exchange student, and has since been a host mom to more than a dozen exchange students. She and her husband also supported both of their daughters during their exchange years to Germany and Ecuador. Currently, Kari spends her days providing training to ICES field staff to equip them to provide outstanding support to students and host families throughout the U.S.





Recent Posts

When it comes to holiday cheer, nothing says “I’m here for the fun” quite like an ugly Christmas sweater. You know the...


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

By Kari Owens On December 2, 2024

Christmas Around the World

Christmas is a magical time of year, no matter where you are in the world. It’s a season of lights, laughter, and traditions that...


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Tags: Cultural Exchange, Holidays, Youth Exchange,

Autumn in the U.S. is a season of vibrant colors, cozy traditions, and unforgettable experiences. Fall offers countless moments...


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Tags: Cultural Exchange, Exchange Student, Student Experience

Fall in America isn’t just about Halloween, football, and colorful leaves—it’s also the season of pumpkin spice!...


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Tags: Host Families, Cultural Exchange, Exchange Student,

As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, fall offers the perfect backdrop for creating warm memories in the kitchen with...


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Tags: Host Families, Cultural Exchange, Exchange Student,

What’s one of the biggest challenges for exchange students? Making friends in a brand-new environment. As a host family, you have...


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Tags: Cultural Exchange, Student Support, Host an exchange student,

Hosting a high school exchange student is an exciting, rewarding experience, filled with new adventures and challenges. Your...


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

Hosting a high school foreign exchange student is a unique and rewarding experience. But to truly make the most of it, it's...


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Tags: Host Families, Cultural Exchange, Exchange Student

If you've hosted an exchange student before, you know how transformative the experience can be. The laughter, the learning, the...


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Tags: Welcome Family, Cultural Exchange, Host an exchange student

When you picture a host family for an exchange student, what comes to mind? Maybe it's a picturesque suburban home with two...


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Tags: Host Families

We polled our host families to find out what they love most about hosting, and their responses were overflowing with enthusiasm!...


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Tags: Host Families, Host an exchange student, Family Fun

As we wrap up our Fourth of July celebrations and reflect on our nation's journey to independence, it's a good time to appreciate...


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Tags: Cultural Exchange, cultural understanding, 4th of July,

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