--- title: ICES Blog (6) 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. (6) --- [![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) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Kari%20Owens%20headshot2.png) By [Kari Owens](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/kari-owens) On September 27, 2024 ## [Why Your Exchange Student Should Keep a Journal (And How You Can Help)](https://blog.icesusa.org/why-your-exchange-student-should-keep-a-journal-and-how-you-can-help) Hosting a high school exchange student is an exciting, rewarding experience, filled with new adventures and challenges. Your... *( 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/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On September 20, 2024 ## [How to Handle Cultural Misunderstandings as a Host Family](https://blog.icesusa.org/how-to-handle-cultural-misunderstandings-as-a-host-family) “There’s no food in this house!” This is a message I received from a desperate exchange student who had just arrived in the USA.... *( read )* Tags: [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Student Support](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/student-support), [cultural understanding](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-understanding), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/LVESEL%20Headshot%20v3.jpg) By [Lily Vesel](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/lily-vesel) On September 13, 2024 ## [Encouraging Your Exchange Student to Get Involved](https://blog.icesusa.org/encouraging-your-exchange-student-to-get-involved) Hosting an exchange student is a rewarding experience that can enrich both your and your exchange student’s lives. Encouraging... *( read )* Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Kari%20Owens%20headshot2.png) By [Kari Owens](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/kari-owens) On September 6, 2024 ## [12 Ways to Maximize Your Hosting Experience](https://blog.icesusa.org/12-ways-to-maximize-your-hosting-experience) [Hosting a high school foreign exchange](https://www.icesusa.org/host-a-student-overview/) student is a unique and rewarding experience. But to truly make the most of it, it's... *( read )* Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On August 30, 2024 ## [Spice Up Your Life!](https://blog.icesusa.org/spice-up-your-life) Are you tired of your routine? [Hosting an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/why-i-host-exchange-students)is one way to spice up your life! Here are just a few of the many ways... *( read )* Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/LVESEL%20Headshot%20v3.jpg) By [Lily Vesel](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/lily-vesel) On August 23, 2024 ## [The Mutual Benefits of Hosting an Exchange Student: Learn and Grow Together](https://blog.icesusa.org/the-mutual-benefits-of-hosting-an-exchange-student) Hosting an exchange student can be both exciting and nerve-wracking all at once. This might be a new experience for both of you–... *( read )* Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Kari%20Owens%20headshot2.png) By [Kari Owens](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/kari-owens) On August 16, 2024 ## [Should I Host Again? Stories from Families Who Said Yes](https://blog.icesusa.org/should-i-host-again-stories-from-families-who-said-yes) If you've [hosted an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/how-to-become-a-host-family-step-by-step-guide) before, you know how transformative the experience can be. The laughter, the learning, the... *( read )* Tags: [Welcome Family](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/welcome-family), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On August 9, 2024 ## [What is it like to be a teenager in Germany?](https://blog.icesusa.org/what-is-it-like-to-be-a-teenager-in-germany) What is it like to grow up in [Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany)? If you're hosting a German exchange student this year, this is a good question to explore.... *( read )* Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Kari%20Owens%20headshot2.png) By [Kari Owens](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/kari-owens) On August 2, 2024 ## [Breaking the Stereotype: What’s the “Ideal” Host Family?](https://blog.icesusa.org/breaking-the-stereotype-whats-the-ideal-host-family) When you picture a [host family for an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/how-to-become-a-host-family-step-by-step-guide), what comes to mind? Maybe it's a picturesque suburban home with two... *( read )* Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/LVESEL%20Headshot%20v3.jpg) By [Lily Vesel](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/lily-vesel) On July 26, 2024 ## [10 Ways to Make Your Exchange Student Feel Welcome](https://blog.icesusa.org/10-ways-to-make-your-exchange-student-feel-welcome) Your exchange student’s arrival date is approaching, and you’re excited and maybe even a little nervous about [integrating a new...](https://blog.icesusa.org/10-ways-to-create-connection-nurturing-strong-bonds-between-host-siblings-and-exchange-students) *( read )* Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Kari%20Owens%20headshot2.png) By [Kari Owens](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/kari-owens) On July 19, 2024 ## [What's the best part of hosting an exchange student?](https://blog.icesusa.org/whats-the-best-part-of-hosting-an-exchange-student) We polled our host families to find out what they love most about hosting, and their responses were overflowing with enthusiasm!... *( read )* Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student), [Family Fun](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/family-fun) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On July 12, 2024 ## [What is it like to be a teenager in Italy?](https://blog.icesusa.org/what-is-it-like-to-be-a-teenager-in-italy) It's more fascinating to host an exchange student if you know where your student is coming from, culturally speaking. This also... *( read )* Tags: [Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student), [Youth Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/youth-exchange), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student), [VIEW MORE](https://blog.icesusa.org/page/7) ### 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.