--- title: ICES Blog | Culture Shock description: Culture Shock | 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/Kari%20Owens%20headshot2.png) By [Kari Owens](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/kari-owens) On October 17, 2025 ## [11 Ways to Bounce Back from Culture Shock (and Start Having Fun Again)](https://blog.icesusa.org/11-ways-to-bounce-back-from-culture-shock-and-start-having-fun-again) The honeymoon phase is over, your daily routine feels—well, routine—and suddenly that “new country excitement” has worn off.... *( read )* Tags: [Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student), [Culture Shock](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock), [Youth Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/youth-exchange), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Logo%20Big.png) By [ICES](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/ices) On August 21, 2025 ## [What If Things Get Awkward? Tips for Navigating Early Misunderstandings](https://blog.icesusa.org/what-if-things-get-awkward-tips-for-navigating-early-misunderstandings) Hosting a high school exchange student is the best. But...it can also get awkward. Don’t worry. Awkward moments are normal in the... *( read )* Tags: [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student), [Culture Shock](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Logo%20Big.png) By [ICES](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/ices) On May 23, 2025 ## [7 Ways Culture Shock Fades and Understanding Grows](https://blog.icesusa.org/7-ways-culture-shock-fades-and-understanding-grows) Hosting a high school exchange student can feel like inviting someone from another planet into your home. There will be [culture...](https://blog.icesusa.org/culture-shock-how-can-you-help) *( read )* Tags: [Culture Shock](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock), [cultural understanding](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-understanding), [american culture](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/american-culture) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On October 7, 2023 ## [Helping Your Exchange Student Through Homesickness](https://blog.icesusa.org/helping-your-exchange-student-through-homesickness) The honeymoon is over when [homesickness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homesickness) hits. Your high school exchange student was so excited to get on that plane and fly into... *( read )* Tags: [Culture Shock](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock), [Homesickness](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/homesickness) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On February 25, 2023 ## [What Surprises Students from Hong Kong?](https://blog.icesusa.org/what-surprises-students-from-hong-kong) [Students from Hong Kong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Hong_Kong) have a unique eastern-western point of view. So, what happens when they come to the USA? How do they see... *( read )* Tags: [Culture Shock](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student), [Student Experience](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/student-experience), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On July 15, 2022 ## [10 Culture Shocks in the USA](https://blog.icesusa.org/10-culture-shocks-in-the-usa) Exchange students bring magic glasses with them to the USA. Let’s look through their lenses for fresh perspectives on ordinary... *( read )* Tags: [Culture Shock](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On October 14, 2021 ## [10 Reasons to Limit Contact with Home](https://blog.icesusa.org/10-reasons-to-limit-contact-with-home) It seems cruel to [limit a foreign teenager's contact with family and friends back home](https://blog.icesusa.org/how-often-should-my-exchange-student-contact-home). Why on earth would anyone suggest such a... *( read )* Tags: [Culture Shock](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock), [Youth Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/youth-exchange), [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 December 22, 2020 ## [European Gift-Giving Customs](https://blog.icesusa.org/european-gift-giving-customs) Around the world gift-giving traditions vary on special occasions of all kinds. Who gives gifts to whom? When? How should a gift... *( read )* Tags: [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Culture Shock](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock), [gift-giving europe](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/gift-giving-europe) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On October 30, 2020 ## [American Culture 101 - Make it a Game!](https://blog.icesusa.org/american-culture-101-make-it-a-game) As host parents we have a lot of explaining to do - the fun (even funny) kind of explaining. For example: *( read )* Tags: [Culture Shock](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Kari%20Owens%20headshot2.png) By [Kari Owens](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/kari-owens) On October 23, 2020 ## [Learning Culture from the Front Seat](https://blog.icesusa.org/learning-culture-from-the-front-seat) I gathered my purse, snacks, jackets, and lap blankets and headed out the door to enjoy a soccer game with the kids: my three... *( read )* Tags: [Culture Shock](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On October 16, 2020 ## [Culture Shock: How Can You Help?](https://blog.icesusa.org/culture-shock-how-can-you-help) Your student comes home after school looking frustrated. They drop their backpack, flop on the couch, and say, “Everything is so... *( read )* Tags: [Culture Shock](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Kari%20Owens%20headshot2.png) By [Kari Owens](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/kari-owens) On September 29, 2020 ## [Exchange Students & Contact with Home: Helpful or Harmful?](https://blog.icesusa.org/how-often-should-my-exchange-student-contact-home) Your exchange student is living thousands of miles from home for an extended period of time. Virtually [everything is different](https://www.icesusa.org/through-the-eyes-of-an-exchange-student/)... *( read )* Tags: [Student Support](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/student-support), [Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student), [Culture Shock](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock) [VIEW MORE](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/culture-shock/page/2) ### 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.