Share the Love Winners

Written by Brad Owens | Feb 14, 2022 2:04:27 PM

In preparation for Valentine's Day, we ran a photo contest in which we asked our exchange students to submit a photo showing us their answer to this question: What is something you love about your exchange? Just for fun, there had to be a heart somewhere in their photo. We received some outstanding--and very creative--photos with captions that will melt your heart! Our students and host families are truly amazing, and we are excited to share the love with you, the same way they do with each other in these photos.

Congratulations to our grand prize winner (who will receive a $200 Visa gift card), and our runners up (each of whom will receive a $100 Visa gift card).

Grand Prize Winner

“I love my host family “snow” much!”

Submitted by Giulia Lucchese from Brazil

Seeing love in a whole new way during her exchange year in Michigan

Runners Up

“I absolutely love my family (they’re not my host family anymore they are MY FAMILY) for ever! And I love the snow and all the fun things you can do in it!! This picture was taken after a really fun sledding day! Thank you ICES for giving me the best host family in the world!”

(In the picture you can see, my host dad, host siblings, host mom, host aunt, host cousin and another exchange student from Germany who lives with my host aunt and uncle)

Submitted by Ana Ruiz Grijalba from Spain

Loving her family in Indiana

"Happy Valentine’s Day to all of my amazing friends who inspired me, supporting me and give me lots of love I love them from the bottom of my heart and they all are my treasures forever!"

Submitted by Himeka Ninagawa from Japan

Sharing the creative love in California

"Me and my host sister Caroline doing our favorite sport on Nick and Ruby"

Submitted by Diane Le Goaster from France

Saddling up love in West Virginia.

Honorable Mentions

These pictures capture love in so many ways, and while they didn't have the votes to capture a prize, they surely didn't fall short when it came to sharing the love. So here are some of our honorable mentions from this years contest!

"Hello :) Here is my Picture for valentines day contest! I’m so grateful that people who I met in America give me a lots of happiness. Thank you so much again :) Also I want to say thank you for having this contest. I could know how blessed I am by taking these pictures with people.

Submitted by Seoyeon Kim from South Korea (and 39 of her closest friends)

Lots of hand-heart love in Oklahoma

"This is a photo of me at my favorite coffee place here in Portland which I really love. Its the small things that makes you happy."

Submitted by Adela Dembowski from the Czech Republic

Sippin' the coffee love in Oregon

My photo represents the beautiful snow we have right now and the fun that I have with my host brother.

Submitted by Leni Müller from Germany

Sharing the snowy love in Indiana

“I love my host-sister more than pizza! Me (the one with the apron) and Israel (my host sister) tried to make pizza, and for this special day that’s coming, we tried to give it a special shape!"

Submitted by Nicole Donato from Italy

Baking up some love in West Virginia

"In this picture I'm with my cheerleading team. I love my teammates because they are friends, supportive and they make me feel welcome in their school everyday. Thinking about going to High School in America I've always wanted to be a cheerleader and finally I got the chance and I love it, I'm having a lot of fun. This picture was taken during senior night: an occasion in which seniors are honored at school for the sports and clubs they are in, and since I'm a senior cheerleader my team gave me some gifts and brought me flowers to participate in honoring me. They are so sweet and nice, I'm so thankful I got to know them and that I've had the opportunity to be a cheerleader during my exchange year, this makes my experience being like a movie: awesome! Happy Valentine's Day!"

Submitted by Vittoria Cozzatelli from Italy

Loving to cheer in Virginia

"I am grateful because I met these great people and I am having the opportunity to spend a year with them. My host siblings are chaotic, super energetic and sweet. I love each and every one of them, they are my family and the little siblings that I’ve never had. I can call myself lucky because I don’t have one Valentine, I have four!"

Submitted by Elisa Amoroso from Italy

Sharing the family love in Pennsylvania

"Went to see Grand Canyon with my friends! I love to travel and get new experiences. What I love more is to share my experiences with people I care about such as good friends."

Submitted by Freya Fiala from Denmark

With some travel-bug love in New York

So Much Love!

Thank you to all of the students, host families, school groups and friends that participated in our fun "Share the Love" photo contest. Rest assured that every photograph was not just viewed, but appreciated! You are all amazing.

Happy Valentine's Day, and remember to share the love of cultural exchange today!

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