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

Educator promotes international student exchange in Owensboro

Educator promotes international student exchange in Owensboro Owensboro Times, Owensboro, Kentucky, March 12, 2019by Jessica Jones / author   Encouraging students to explore other cultures has been a constant theme in Lori Thurman’s social studies classes. However, this veteran teacher also enables students from different countries to visit the area as exchange students with her work as a field consultant … Read More

So proud of this small school

So proud of this small school   Hello there! Here is a recent photo from this week that made me so proud of this small school. The school surprised the exchange students over the weekend by putting up each of their flags in the cafeteria. We have a school that share a cafeteria with Preschool to 12th grade. It’s created … Read More

What do the Vegas Golden Knights and my Exchange Students have in common?

What do the Vegas Golden Knights and my Exchange Students have in common?   Everything!   What a year to come to Vegas as an Exchange Student! We have a new hockey team, the Vegas Golden Knights who took first place in the Pacific Division and are currently in the NHL (National Hockey League) Stanley Cup Playoffs (after winning Round … Read More

“We’re keeping him, right?”

“We’re keeping him, right?”   Our family has hosted twelve students over the past 10 years, plus other short stays. It’s been very positive for our family and we feel like we have kids from all over the world. Some years it takes a few months before we actually feel like family and that’s okay. We have heard many host … Read More

‘Tis the Season!

‘Tis the Season!   This holiday season has been even more special thanks to our Danish Exchange Student Morten and his family! They sent us a package in November that contained their Danish Holiday Tradition – celebration of Christmas Month – opening a gift every day of December leading up to Christmas. I had to decorate an additional tree in … Read More

Working as Local Coordinators for ICES…

Working as Local Coordinators for ICES brought the wonderful opportunity to participate in this year’s annual incentive trip to Italy!   Having never been to Italy before, we were excited to see the ancient ruins of Rome, the cosmopolitan city of Milan, and the breathtaking beauty of Lake Como. The sights were nothing short of amazing, and experiencing them as … Read More

Hosting exchange students has really become a part of our lives…

Hosting exchange students has really become a part of our lives…   …it is just who we are!! Each young person who has come and spent 10 to 12 months with us has definitely enriched our lives. Sharing cultures is such a beautiful thing to do. In my own opinion the problem in our world is that we do not … Read More