--- title: ICES Blog | Exchange Student description: Exchange Student | 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/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On January 16, 2026 ## [Mid-Year Check: Make Your Year Great!](https://blog.icesusa.org/mid-year-check-make-your-year-great) Making it halfway through an exchange year is not easy. *( read )* Tags: [Student Support](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/student-support), [Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student), [Youth Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/youth-exchange), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On December 5, 2025 ## [Homesick for the Holidays? Tips for Staying Positive](https://blog.icesusa.org/homesick-for-the-holidays-tips-for-staying-positive) Many exchange students feel a little sad or emotional during the holidays. You might miss your family, your food, your... *( read )* Tags: [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student), [Holidays](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/holidays), ![](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/Kari%20Owens%20headshot2.png) By [Kari Owens](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/kari-owens) On November 1, 2025 ## [Exchange Student Guide to an Awesome Holiday Season (Hint: Gratitude)](https://blog.icesusa.org/exchange-student-guide-to-an-awesome-holiday-season-hint-gratitude) The pumpkins are not yet gone, the air smells like cinnamon, and suddenly the world is sparkling again. November has arrived —... *( read )* Tags: [Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student), [Holidays](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/holidays), [Youth Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/youth-exchange), ![](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/LVESEL%20Headshot%20v3.jpg) By [Lily Vesel](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/lily-vesel) On October 3, 2025 ## [6 Ways Playing Sports Benefits Exchange Students](https://blog.icesusa.org/6-ways-playing-sports-benefits-exchange-students) Picture this: Your exchange student nervously walks into soccer tryouts, unsure if she'll fit in with the American team. Fast... *( read )* Tags: [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student), [American high school](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/american-high-school) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Kari%20Owens%20headshot2.png) By [Kari Owens](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/kari-owens) On September 26, 2025 ## [Small Wins, Big Year: How to Thrive on Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/small-wins-big-year-how-to-thrive-on-exchange) Stop for a second and think about this: two months ago, you were packing your suitcase, saying teary goodbyes, and hopping on a... *( read )* Tags: [Student Support](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/student-support), [Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student), [Student Experience](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/student-experience) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/LVESEL%20Headshot%20v3.jpg) By [Lily Vesel](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/lily-vesel) On September 5, 2025 ## [American High School Life: School Spirit, Sports, and Slang](https://blog.icesusa.org/american-high-school-life-school-spirit-sports-and-slang) So, you're about to begin your high school exchange year in the United States. If you've watched American teen movies, you're... *( 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/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/LVESEL%20Headshot%20v3.jpg) By [Lily Vesel](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/lily-vesel) On August 8, 2025 ## [Feeling Nervous About Studying Abroad? Here's How to Handle It.](https://blog.icesusa.org/feeling-nervous-about-studying-abroad-heres-how-to-handle-it) For the last few months, you've probably felt mounting excitement about your upcoming exchange year in the United States. But now... *( 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/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On June 16, 2025 ## [After You Say Goodbye...](https://blog.icesusa.org/after-you-say-goodbye) Saying goodbye to an exchange student usually happens in a flurry of activity: end of school, beginning of summer, planning... *( 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/Inja.jpeg) By [Inja Hartmann](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/inja-hartmann) On June 6, 2025 ## [What Being an Exchange Student Has Taught Me](https://blog.icesusa.org/what-being-an-exchange-student-has-taught-me) Before starting my exchange year, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. I had heard countless stories from former... *( read )* Tags: [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Exchange Student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student), [Youth Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/youth-exchange) [VIEW MORE](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student/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.