Being an exchange student is all about accepting the unexpected

Being an exchange student is all about accepting the unexpected Being an exchange student is all about accepting the unexpected twists and turns that come about during the year. When Ilja left his home in Germany for the long flight to meet his host family in Medford, Oregon, he never expected to spend several days in Parker, Colorado! When Ilja … Read More

Adding more stories to our lives

Adding more stories to our lives We have so many stories to tell from our year with our first exchange student, Elisa from Germany. We had never thought about hosting a student until an ICES representative at our school said that she had someone who would fit in perfectly with our family. So, we took a leap of faith and … Read More

A hockey player – finally!

A hockey player – finally! We are huge hockey fans. It may seem weird to be hockey fans in the middle of the Mojave Desert – Las Vegas, but many of us here in Vegas came from somewhere else (Michigan and New York for us). I have been hauling hockey bags across town for over 20 years. Our oldest son … Read More

My first days in America

  My first days in America My first days in America were full of fun. I spent a lot of time with my host family as we traveled together and they showed me some places in Tomball, Texas where I am staying for my exchange year. The heat in Texas was horrible for me at the beginning but after few … Read More

Studying Abroad Changed my Perspective on Life

Studying Abroad Changed my Perspective on Life I would highly recommend that anyone who is tired of doing the same thing that everyone else is doing, go on an exchange year. I’ve always loved to travel so when I had the opportunity to live somewhere I couldn’t wait. I started off my year living in Orimattila, a small town about … Read More

Vietnamese exchange student in Patterson

Vietnamese exchange student in Patterson Patterson Irrigator, Patterson, California, May 28, 2020 by Cee Cee Howell / author Ngan Doan, known by her new American family and friends as “Nan,” has been in the United States since August 9, 2019. Originally from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Doan is a 15-year-old sophomore at Patterson High School. Doan was placed at … Read More

Our very first experience as a host family

Our very first experience as a host family We are a family of 6. We have 3 children of our own 1 boy and 2 girls ages 6,5 and 2 and 1 Foster child age 9. I came across a post on Facebook about this program. I reached out to the coordinator here in Oregon and she sent one of … Read More

Someday I’ll celebrate Mother’s Day

Someday I’ll celebrate Mother’s Day Today is mother’s day! So blessed to know so many great ones and I hope they all had a great day! As a woman who’s battled infertility, I’ve spent my adult life thinking if I pray hard enough, hope long enough, wish upon enough stars, that someday I’ll celebrate mother’s day as a mother. And … Read More

Exchange Student Program Enriches Lives of Guests, Hosts and Those around Them

Exchange Student Program Enriches Lives of Guests, Hosts and Those around Them Juniata Sentinel, Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, May 6, 2020 by Paige Smith / writer I have always been fascinated by other cultures. Their traditions, their communities, their cuisine. I just never realized that I could learn all about these things firsthand without traveling the world. It turns out, I can, … Read More