--- title: ICES Blog | American values description: American values | 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) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/LVESEL%20Headshot%20v3.jpg) By [Lily Vesel](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/lily-vesel) On November 14, 2025 ## [Black Friday and Cyber Monday: An Exchange Student's Guide](https://blog.icesusa.org/black-friday-cyber-monday-an-exchange-students-guide) Americans love shopping… but they love sales even more. The biggest sales event of the year happens on Black Friday and Cyber... *( read )* Tags: [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Student Support](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/student-support), [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 July 18, 2025 ## [You Don't Have to Solve the World's Problems—Just Open Your Door](https://blog.icesusa.org/you-dont-have-to-solve-the-worlds-problems-just-open-your-door) In a world that often feels overwhelmed by global challenges, it's easy to feel powerless. What can you do to really make a... *( 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 November 15, 2024 ## [Why Americans Go Crazy for Pumpkin Spice: A Fun Fall Tradition to Share with Your Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/why-americans-go-crazy-for-pumpkin-spice-a-fun-fall-tradition-to-share-with-your-exchange-student) Fall in America isn’t just about Halloween, football, and colorful leaves—it’s also the season of pumpkin spice!... *( 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/Emma%20headshot-1.png) By [Emma Weissburg](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/emma-weissburg) On October 26, 2022 ## [Americans Love Sports](https://blog.icesusa.org/americans-love-sports) It’s no secret that Americans love their sports.  As of 2022, the sports market in America is valued at about $80.5 billion. To... *( read )* Tags: [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [American values](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/american-values) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Emma%20headshot-1.png) By [Emma Weissburg](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/emma-weissburg) On August 26, 2022 ## [Share the USA with Your Exchange Student - a Monthly Guide](https://blog.icesusa.org/share-the-usa-with-your-exchange-student-a-monthly-guide) All across the country, teens from around the world are diving into their exchange with the goal of learning about [American...](https://blog.icesusa.org/american-culture-101-make-it-a-game) *( 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/Emma%20headshot-1.png) By [Emma Weissburg](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/emma-weissburg) On July 2, 2022 ## [The 4th of July: Top 6 Ways to Celebrate](https://blog.icesusa.org/the-4th-of-july-top-6-ways-to-celebrate) Summertime is finally here.  As the weather warms up, our sleeves roll up in preparation for another legendary 4th of July... *( read )* Tags: [Holidays](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/holidays), [cultural understanding](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-understanding), [American values](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/american-values) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On September 21, 2021 ## [How to express appreciation in the USA](https://blog.icesusa.org/how-to-express-appreciation-in-the-usa) Do you want your host family to adore you? Then this post is for you! *( read )* Tags: [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [American values](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/american-values), [Gratitude in the USA](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/gratitude-in-the-usa) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On September 7, 2020 ## [American Values that Intrigue, Baffle or Shock The World…](https://blog.icesusa.org/american-values-that-intrigue-baffle-or-shock-the-world-) In 1984, one man tried to tell the world what makes Americans tick. It was his job to prepare foreign visitors for culture shock... *( read )* Tags: [cultural values](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-values), [American values](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/american-values) ### 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.