ICES Newsletter
Posts & Articles 2017
Read the ICES Newsletter posts and articles 2017 to learn about previous activities and what ICES students and host families say about their exchange experiences!
Double the Fun!
Double the Fun! My husband, son, and I are hosting Martin from Argentina and Nadine from Brazil. Both Martin and Nadine are just here for 5 months. They both leave in a few weeks and we ...
Being with other exchange students from all over the world made this experience unforgettable
Being with other exchange students from all over the world made this experience unforgettable I’ve enjoyed San Francisco so much! The trip was amazing and I had a lot of fun. This ...
The San Francisco trip was one of the greatest experiences of my life!
The San Francisco trip was one of the greatest experiences of my life! I got to explore San Francisco for the first time and it was amazing! I even got to try things that I would never ...
‘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 ...
Students from Idaho, enjoy the annual Christmas shopping trip to Salt Lake City
Students from Malad and Preston, Idaho, enjoy the annual Christmas shopping trip to Salt Lake City This year was extra special because there happens to be only girls in this group, so ...
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 ...
My Experience as an Exchange Student in the U.S.
My Experience as an Exchange Student in the U.S. #1. Being an Exchange Student in America-the Most Precious Birthday Gift in my Life In August 30th, 2013, I left my family in South ...
I have seen the rainbow and the path that leads to the brighter future of mine
I have seen the rainbow and the path that leads to the brighter future of mine One of my current teachers once told me that the true nature of making decisions is to decide what you are ...
It has been already 4 months since I came here to the U.S.
It has been already 4 months since I came here to the U.S. It seems like if it was just yesterday when I got off the plane on the 30th of July at the Kansas City airport and had met the ...
In Touch with Nature
In Touch with Nature When I began communicating with our most recent exchange student (Oskar from Germany), I was very curious as to why he had asked to be placed somewhere on the western ...
I love my American family
I love my American family I’m Angelo and I just want to let you know that my exchange program is going very well. Talking about my host family I want to say that it’s perfect, we ...
I traveled 17 hours from Italy just to watch my idol Damian Lillard
I traveled 17 hours from Italy just to watch my idol Damian Lillard Damian Lillard (basketball player) has always been an idol for me, I’ve been watching his games since I was a ...
I’m having an amazing experience
I’m having an amazing experience My name is Andrea, I’m 17 years old and I’m from Murcia, Spain. I know the photograph chosen doesn’t seem very interesting, ...
My integration into school was actually easier than I thought
My integration into school was actually easier than I thought Hey I‘m Hannah and I‘m an exchange student from Germany. My integration into school was actually easier than I thought. On my ...
I am really grateful…
I am really grateful that my host family lets me be part of their family for one year It has been exactly 140 days since I started this long journey at the airport in Berlin. I started ...
It is unbelievable that its already been over 100 days…
It is unbelievable that its already been over 100 days since I came to America It seems like it was yesterday I was packed up in one suitcase and ready to leave my home, my family, ...
This place has changed into my second home
This place has changed into my second home My experience so far has been one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done in my life. I got the opportunity to meet a lot of people and ...
I enjoyed every minute of this evening
I enjoyed every minute of this evening I was really excited about Halloween. I bought a costume as a witch. Also my host parents worn as pumpkin and cat. We went trick or treat ...
Studying abroad could give students an edge in the job market
Studying abroad could give students an edge in the job market A student who can speak a second or third language will be a more desirable candidate in the job market and will ...
Cross country is helping Italian exchange student adjust to life in Dallas, Oregon
Cross country is helping Italian exchange student adjust to life in Dallas, Oregon Statesman Journal, Oregon, September 20, 2017 (part of the USA Today Network) by Pete Martini DALLAS — ...
Foreign Exchange program brings the world closer
Foreign Exchange program brings the world closer Clark County School District Newsroom Las Vegas, Nevada, September 15, 2017 What do Germany, Italy and Spain have in common? More than half ...
Thank you everyone who make this opportunity possible …
Thank you everyone who make this opportunity possible … Hello! My name is Alba and I’m going to talk you about the start of my American adventure: I am right now living one of ...
Slovakian Cheerleader
🇸🇰 Slovakian Cheerleader Sofia is a Slovak champion rhythmic gymnast, but for her exchange year in North Carolina she wanted to be a cheerleader. She had to tryout ...
I was completely shocked with the results of the Dual Enrollment exams…
I was completely shocked with the results of the Dual Enrollment exams… … I had passed with one of the highest scores at Gate City High School! And at the same time, I am the ...
Thank you with all of my heart!
Thank you with all of my heart! One month ago we hugged goodbye to my lovely and brave daughter, Julie, who is now an Exchange student in Imlay City, Michigan, USA. She is under the wings ...
An exciting two weeks in America surviving a hurricane
An exciting two weeks in America surviving a hurricane Exchange students, Mie and Madeleine have had an exciting two weeks in America surviving a hurricane. After two days of school, Mie ...
Hurricane Harvey was a really a different kind of experience for me
Hurricane Harvey was a really different kind of experience for me … there’s typhoon in Shanghai, but never as serious as this. When I saw the hurricane warning at the ...
Ti has been such a blessing …
Ti has been such a blessing … (text message from a host dad to the ICES Field Manager) We did a 15.50 mile bicycle ride on the Armstrong Trail yesterday. We went all the way to Lock & ...
I definitely do not regret going to the Orientation in LA
I definitely do not regret going to the Orientation in L.A. Before I went to my host family in Texas I decided to go on an orientation. We could choose between orientation in New York ...
Dream Will Come True as Long as I Don’t Quit
🇰🇷 Dream Will Come True as Long as I Don’t Quit! Before I talk about my experience in the U.S., I’d like to touch upon my life in Korea. I wasn’t known for my academic ...
what makes exchange year so special
what makes exchange year so special It has already been a month since I came back to Slovakia from my exchange year in Oregon. The decision to spend one year in USA was the best one in my ...
we knew right away…
we knew right away that it was something that we were being called to explore and do… For anyone pondering if they should become a host family, I would suggest that you do it. ...
Go Disney… for the 8th time
Go Disney… for the 8th time! The ICES field staff in Mississippi and Alabama take their exchange students and chaperones to Disney in Florida every year. “It is a wonderful trip. Not ...
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 ...
We were so blessed to have Cecilie as a student and soccer player
“We were so blessed to have Cecilie as a student and soccer player” Cecilie from Denmark attend Terry High School in Rosenberg, Texas. Her soccer team showed up to say goodbye ...
I am so proud of my Italian son, Nicola!
I am so proud of my Italian son, Nicola! He took the American Chemical Society’s Chemistry Olympiad first-year test and placed third among 14 schools in the Kanawha Valley Region! ...
I am so happy and so lucky to get the family I got
I am so happy and so lucky to get the family I got They gave me the experience I could’ve asked for and they have been so sweet and kind to me. I wouldn’t want another host ...
This experience is not only about learning a language…
This experience is not only about learning a language, it’s about growing as a person All the things I have done have changed me. I’m not the person that left Italy almost ten ...
We have more in common than we think
“We have more in common than we think” The Las Vegas trip was one of the best trips I ever had. We visited Las Vegas strip, were we saw all kind of people with unique skills like ...
ICES Oregon students volunteer in Community Service Project
ICES Oregon students volunteer in Community Service Project Congrats to our awesome Oregon Food Bank volunteers. Together you handled 23,311 pounds of donated food for families in need. ...
Our advice to those thinking about hosting…
Our advice to those thinking about hosting… DO IT! Being a host family has been one of the biggest blessings we have encountered. It’s much more than proving room and board. ...
Marc determined to come with an open mind…
Marc determined to come with an open mind… Marc from Spain has spent the past year with the Demoville family in Columbus, MS, a somewhat rural area in North East Mississippi. He said ...
The memories and excursions will last a lifetime…
The memories and excursions will last a lifetime until we meet up again and make more… I want to share the privilege of having been the host family for Tailyn (Tay). She came to us from ...
This was a good match
“this was a good match” My host family went from being strangers to family in a really short time. I knew from the moment we were introduced, that this was a good match. And I mean, of ...
Words cannot describe how thankful I am for my host family
Words cannot describe how thankful I am for my host family Not only they opened their door to me and accepted me in their beautiful home, they’ve also treated me like their own ...
We had 3 girls the same age living under one roof
“we had 3 girls the same age living under one roof” When I was asked to write a short letter sharing our experience with hosting a foreign exchange student, I was honored. Our experience ...
About a year ago I made a big decision…
“About a year ago I made a big decision” I decided to leave Slovakia and come to the United States for a new experience and to learn English. The only thing I didn’t know was that I ...
High school, American style
High school, American style Sierra Star, Oakhurst, California, May 10, 2017 by Morgan Voorhis Three German teens, along with a student from Spain and Thailand spent their senior year in ...
Peachtree Road Farmer’s Market reusable bag design contest
Peachtree Road Farmer’s Market reusable bag design contest Peachtree Road Farmer’s Market, Atlanta, Georgia, April 17, 2017 Congratulations Ella! ...
Solveig, from Norway, has definitely become a part of the Shockley family
Solveig, from Norway, has definitely become a part of the Shockley family “She never really became homesick. It was almost like she had known us her whole life; she just fit right ...
From the Swedish archipelago to the Californian desert
From the Swedish archipelago to the Californian desert Hi, my name is Hampus Lind, and I’m 17 years old, turning 18 in April. I’m from Sweden and right now I live in Ridgecrest, ...
“The experience of my life”
“The experience of my life” Hi, my name is Queralt and I’m an exchange student from Barcelona, Spain. I’ve been in America for four months. This time has been amazing, with a lot of new ...
“I absolutely love my host family”
“I absolutely love my host family” My name is Signe, I am from Denmark and I am spending an exchange year in Minnesota. I live here in Farmington with my host family, The Sanborn´s. My ...
This exchange year has probably been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done but also definitely the most rewarding
This exchange year has probably been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done but also definitely the most rewarding Hi my name is Karoliina When I was 12 years old, I decided that I ...
Hosting an exchange student was nothing our family had planned …
Hosting an exchange student was nothing our family had planned … … until coming across an ICES post and learning about all of the wonderful students waiting for families. And from that ...
It has been an amazing 5 months
It has been an amazing 5 months I am now slowly coming to the end of my semester exchange in Texas, USA, and it has been an amazing 5 months! My first month in Texas was pretty full on. My ...
Teenagers are fun! They get you moving, thinking, and learning in new ways …
“Teenagers are fun! They get you moving, thinking, and learning in new ways …” What more could a middle-aged, newlywed, childless couple ask for in an exchange student than our charming ...
European exchange students at Moffat County High School shatter stereotypes
European exchange students at Moffat County High School shatter stereotypes Craig Daily Press, Craig, Colorado, January 7, 2017 by Sasha Nelson Four students have traveled from Europe to ...