You’ve packed your bags, bought your plane ticket and may have even started saying your goodbyes to friends and family — but the international exchange adventure is just beginning. Before you know it, you’ll be spending a big part of your day with brand new family members with different traditions, beliefs, and preferences than yours. […]
A semester or year spent living overseas as a teen elicits plenty of emotions — excitement, anticipation, and wonder just to name a few. That said, some level of discomfort and even sadness is inevitable when an exchange student embarks on an extended trip so far from home. Helping your student adapt to and embrace […]
Virtually every international student comes to the United States with some idea of their goals academically. After all, studying abroad is still very much that — spending time in an American classroom, learning alongside other teens and receiving grades just like a normal high-schooler. But for cultural exchange students, the lessons learned during a semester or […]
There are plenty of reasons to spend a semester or year living and studying abroad, from learning about new cultures to forging lasting relationships with people all around the world. But for many teens and their families, studying abroad is a very big step both emotionally and financially. Many stop and wonder: will studying abroad […]
New food, new people, a new environment… nearly all of us enjoy trying something “new” on vacation. Whether you’re a beach bum or an outdoor enthusiast, just about everyone enjoys ditching their daily routine and doing something out of the ordinary every once in a while. But for some especially adventurous people, just a few […]
Only a decade or two ago, international travel and cultural exchange looked very different than it does today. While handwritten letters and the occasional phone call used to be the preferred method for international communication, nowadays technology like Skype and Facetime allows exchange students to have face-to-face conversations with family and friends back home virtually […]
Only a decade or two ago, the concept that students could interact with their peers from around the world on a regular basis was hardly feasible. But with the rise of social media and communication technologies like Skype and WhatsApp, modern students are more connected to the world around them than ever before. With that, […]
Whether you are just wrapping up your latest hosting experience or are getting ready to host your very first, you might already be thinking: “Should I host another exchange student?” Opening your home to a foreign student is a hugely rewarding experience for families and individuals across the United States. With ISE alone, more than […]
Deciding to host an exchange student is a tough decision to make — perhaps one of the most impactful decisions you’ll ever make for your family. Doing so will not only provide an enriching experience for a young person looking to explore the world, but it will likely open the hearts and minds of your […]
Each year, thousands of international students travel to the US to experience American culture and academics on J1 and F1 visas. J1 and F1 visa programs all serve a similar purpose: to connect people and cultures from around the world. There are plenty of reasons to host an exchange student — from having a rich cultural […]