--- title: ICES Blog | cultural values description: cultural 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 May 30, 2025 ## [Encouraging Your Exchange Student to Give Before They Go](https://blog.icesusa.org/encouraging-your-exchange-student-to-give-before-they-go) As the exchange year ends, you might reflect on the incredible journey you have shared with your exchange student. You have... *( read )* Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Study Abroad](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/study-abroad), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/LVESEL%20Headshot%20v3.jpg) By [Lily Vesel](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/lily-vesel) On May 2, 2025 ## [Why Youth Exchange Matters More Than Ever in Today’s World](https://blog.icesusa.org/why-youth-exchange-matters-more-than-ever-in-todays-world) Youth exchange- what’s not to love? You get to share a family member with another family across the world and have the chance to... *( read )* Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Study Abroad](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/study-abroad), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/LVESEL%20Headshot%20v3.jpg) By [Lily Vesel](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/lily-vesel) On April 4, 2025 ## [Experiencing American Culture Through Volunteering](https://blog.icesusa.org/experiencing-american-culture-through-volunteering) Your exchange student is already diving headfirst into American culture - attending school, learning slang, and discovering how... *( read )* Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [cultural understanding](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-understanding), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Kari%20Owens%20headshot2.png) By [Kari Owens](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/kari-owens) On October 20, 2023 ## [Lost in Translation: Unraveling Cultural Misunderstandings](https://blog.icesusa.org/lost-in-translation-unraveling-cultural-misunderstandings) In the exciting world of hosting exchange students, there's more to the experience than just sharing your home and meals. It's an... *( read )* Tags: [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student), [cultural understanding](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-understanding), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On October 3, 2020 ## [The Emotional Bank Account: Teaching Teens How to Get Rich](https://blog.icesusa.org/the-emotional-bank-account-teaching-teens-how-to-get-rich) This is the emergency message I received from Maria: *“Can you help me? I think my host mom is crazy. She yelled at me for* ***no...*** *( read )* Tags: [cultural values](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-values) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On September 19, 2020 ## [Teaching Gratitude American-style](https://blog.icesusa.org/teaching-gratitude-american-style) [World Gratitude Day](https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-gratitude-day/)is September 21. This is a perfect occasion for host families and exchange students to compare notes: how do... *( read )* Tags: [cultural values](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-values), [cross-cultural gratitude](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cross-cultural-gratitude), [gratitude in India](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/gratitude-in-india), ![](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.