What if the most patriotic thing you could do this Fourth of July wasn’t waving a flag—but opening your front door?
While we celebrate our freedom with fireworks, cookouts, and red-white-and-blue everything, students across the globe are dreaming of experiencing that very moment—in real life. They’re not looking for perfection or politics. They want the everyday beauty of American life: backyard barbecues, high school spirit, and the warmth of a family who says, “Welcome. You belong here.”
These students are still coming.
They’re still hoping.
They’re still waiting for someone like you.
Freedom, at its core, isn’t just about what we have. It’s about what we do with it. This country was built on the idea that ordinary individuals can do extraordinary things. And sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is open your door.
Hosting an exchange student isn’t about having the perfect life or a spotless house. It’s about sharing your everyday—a trip to the grocery store, the high school football game, family dinners, and even a holiday cookout. These seemingly simple moments are where culture is truly lived and learned.
When you host, you’re not just giving a student a bed and a school to attend. You’re offering a front-row seat to American life. And in return, you get a window into another culture, a fresh perspective, and, often, a lifelong bond that stretches across oceans.
We get it. This year might feel more uncertain than ever. You might be wondering, Is now really a good time to host?
Here’s the truth: there’s never a perfect time. But there is a right time. And that time is when you feel the nudge in your gut—that small voice that says, Maybe we could do this.
Our students aren’t arriving for politics. They’re arriving for people. They’re coming to walk the halls of an American high school, to taste pancakes with maple syrup, to cheer on the home team, to join your family’s routines. They want to understand us—our values, our stories, our way of life—and to share theirs in return.
Yes, things feel uncertain. But hosting isn’t about offering certainty. It’s about offering connection. And connection is something we need now more than ever.
One of our past host moms put it perfectly: “I didn’t realize how much I needed this experience until I had it.”
She wasn’t sure at first. But after a few weeks of having her student around the dinner table, swapping stories and laughing over language quirks, she said it felt like their family had grown in all the best ways.
That’s the thing about hosting. It’s not just a gift for the student—it’s a gift for the host family, too. It brings fresh energy into your home, adds meaning to your routines, and reminds you of the beauty in your own culture.
You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be present.
As we celebrate this nation’s independence, let’s remember what makes us proud to be American: not just our freedoms, but our generosity. Our spirit of welcome. Our belief that the world is better when we open our hearts—and our homes.
Hosting an exchange student is one small act that can have a ripple effect far beyond your front porch. It’s a way to live out the ideals we celebrate on the Fourth of July—freedom, friendship, and a future that’s just a little bit more connected.
So light those sparklers. Grill those burgers. And while you’re at it, ask yourself: Could we be that home for someone this year?
Exchange students are still arriving for fall—and many are still waiting to be placed with a host family. Your everyday could be their dream come true. If you've ever considered hosting, now is the time to say yes.
Celebrate your freedom by sharing it. Open your home. Make a difference.