Since their inception in 1961, J-1 Cultural Exchange Programs have relied on a special breed of passionate individuals who believe that they can make a difference by positively impacting the lives of young people from around the world. As one of the largest and longest-running sponsors of J-1 exchange, International…
In a time when cross-cultural experiences are more important than ever, working in the high school cultural exchange sphere is an incredibly rewarding, yet sometimes challenging, endeavor. When considering which exchange organization to work with, you should not only consider the mission but also the tools, training, and support that’ll…
How do we prepare the next generation for the global challenges of tomorrow? International student exchange programs might be the key. Anyone who has ever spent more than a few weeks abroad will tell you that adjusting to a new culture is not easy. Intentionally placing yourself in an unfamiliar…
The Fry Family opened their home to an exchange student from the Czech Republic back in 2015. You can watch Jacklynn explain their thought process, their reservations and the amazing experiences they had once their student arrived. Deciding To Host an Exchange Student The Fry Family went back and forth…
Benedetta Villano, an exchange student from Italy, was able to graduate high school in Italy and in America. Read some of her amazing story below, or read the full article here. Benedetta “Benni” Villano is a 17-year-old exchange student from Italy that was placed with a host family in Yuma,…
Irene Huguet is a Spanish exchange student attending high school in Wantagh, New York. Irene arrived to New York this past summer and has been loving every moment she has been here. She is a high honors student, as well as the starting center for the girls basketball team. Irene…
If there was just one story that truly encapsulates why ISE believes in giving back, it would be the story of Amanda*. For years, Amanda lived a life typical of other youngsters in her Kentucky town — playing outside, riding bikes in her neighborhood, and meeting new friends at school….
Milos Prokic, the Chief Operations Officer at International Student Exchange (ISE), has seen his fair share of the world. He’s worked and studied in Canada, Ukraine, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, France, and the United States, and traveled to plenty of other countries as well. That said, at no other time…
For many international exchange students, few holidays feel more quintessentially “American” than Thanksgiving. Many Thanksgiving traditions revolve around cultural mainstays like football and comfort food, leading many international students to feel particularly excited about experiencing Thanksgiving with their American host family. What are the types of experiences international students look…
If you didn’t know David and Sherry Rollins personally, you would be forgiven for thinking the couple had one of the largest extended families you’d ever seen. After all, nearly a dozen teenagers have come in and out of the Rollins household over the past decade, each staying in their…