Sara Fletcher has worked with exchange students for years – first as a Local Coordinator, and now as a Regional Director, where she oversees the placement and supervision of iE students in the Midwest USA, as well as several Southern states. She’s also a host mom who just welcomed her third exchange student.

But before she ever worked in student exchange, Sara was one herself. As a young adult, she studied abroad in Russia, where she lived with a host family and immersed herself in a new culture. Thanks to her wealth of firsthand experience – both as a student and a host – she understands the joys and challenges of international exchange.

Welcoming a new member into your family can feel overwhelming. Even if you’ve raised teens before, cultural differences, language barriers, and the natural adjustment period can leave you wondering what to expect.

That’s why Sara put together this quick “crash course” in hosting. Whether it’s your first year or your fortieth, we hope you’ll walk away feeling more confident and prepared for the incredible journey ahead.

Hosting 101

Sara as an exchange student.

A good place to start is by asking yourself this one question: What was your goal when you first volunteered to host – was it to learn and grow, to step out of your comfort zone? How exactly does this play out when you have a student in your home?

1. Be prepared for your student to have habits and preferences or make decisions that you do not understand. Your student will have needs that you cannot anticipate and they may not be good at communicating them to you at first. It’s very possible they may not ever be able to explain them to you in words.

2. Keep an open mind each day and watch for clues. Just watch and listen . . . try to recognize emotions and offer understanding when you can even if you barely grasp what’s going on in their head. Enjoy being an investigator of what makes your student tick. Sometimes you may just need to sit down and have a conversation with them to understand each other better.

This is all part of the cultural exchange process. The more we learn to understand each other, the better we get along and the more fun we can have. It’s a lot easier to have a fun day floating down the river together as a family when you’ve cleared up the confusion over why your student overslept and made everyone late to meet the river guide – she stayed up late talking to her mom back home because she is homesick. Now that you know she’s feeling homesick, you can creatively distract her with some fun activities over the weekend, and maybe ask her to tell you about her family back home.

3. Lead with compassion. If you aren’t sure what to do – be compassionate. The student’s behavior may seem annoying to you, but try to put yourselves in the student’s shoes. It can be exhausting to constantly adapt to a new environment!

A Spanish girl at age 15 may need a lot of alone time to process her emotions because her mom isn’t there and she’s only just getting to know you. A Spanish boy may leave his wet laundry in the washing machine or forget to put trash in the trash can because his parents hired a maid in his home country. Your student may fall asleep after school and not realize you have dinner planned at 6pm, so she will miss it entirely because back home her family eats at 9pm. Your student may have a hard time waking up for school; she’s tired because she’s getting used to speaking English all day and the newness of school is still very overwhelming for her. Or your student may not think to wash their sports clothes – probably because they need to go to Walmart to stock up on deodorant but are feeling too shy to ask you to take them.

4. Be prepared to be their parent. Don’t wait for them to ask you what you need or expect from them. Set clear expectations of how you want them to behave in your home and participate in family life. Literally write all of this down, print it and give it to them. I have a few samples of “Survival Guide to Our Household” which I can share with anyone interested. Any amount of guidance you can provide, no matter how small it may seem to you, will be much appreciated by your student. If you expect them to put the shower curtain inside the shower rather than the outside, you should tell them point-blank, rather than expecting them figure these things out on their own.

5. Never assume your student knows how to do something that you find mundane or routine. They’re coming here from the comfort of their own homes, and it probably feels like everything is different. Many of them do not know how to operate a vacuum cleaner or microwave. Think about how you might feel arriving to a town in the arctic circle – you would need locals to teach you how to dress for very cold temperatures and how to operate a skidoo. Put yourself in your student’s shoes and be as thorough and repetitive as you need to be to help your student acclimate.

Do you remember being a teenager? Regardless of where your student is from, there are some common “teenager” behaviors that transcend all cultures.

• Your student probably will not pick up on unspoken communication.
• Be prepared to over-explain.
• Be prepared to remind them multiple times of things you’ve already told them.
• Be prepared to invite them more than once to do something with you.”

Covering 3.8 million square miles and comprising over 340 million people, the United States is one of the largest countries in the world – and in every community across the USA, “sharing your America” looks a little bit different. So what are the things that make us uniquely American?

Fourth of July provides a great opportunity to step back and recognize what connects and unites us as a country. Keep reading for five ways to share your America no matter where you live!

 1. Share Your Stories

Every person has a story – and every region of the U.S. has its own voice. From Appalachian folktales to West Coast memoirs, storytelling helps us preserve traditions, honor local heroes, and pass down wisdom and learning moments from generation to generation. 

Share your America by watching a classic American TV show or movie together, listening to a podcast that discusses American history, or even attend a play or musical at your local theater.

2. Share Your Hospitality

Hospitality is a deeply rooted American value that goes beyond geography. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture – the simple act of opening up your home and sharing a meal together is the perfect way to build connections that could turn into meaningful friendship

3. Share Your Community

America is built on the strength of its communities. Whether you’re organizing a local cleanup, volunteering at a food bank, or showing up to a town hall meeting, your commitment to others is part of what makes this country work. Sharing your America means showing up for the people around you – after all, change often starts at the local level.

4. Share Your Adventure

From the Grand Canyon to hidden trails in your own backyard, America’s landscapes are invitations to explore. Sharing your America through adventure might mean hiking, biking, surfing, or just taking the long way home with the windows down. It’s about appreciating the freedom to roam — and encouraging others to step outside, breathe deeply, and discover what makes this land so awe-inspiring.

5. Share Your Art & Culture

Between Indigenous roots, immigrant influences, and regional traditions, the manifestation of culture across the USA is as diverse as its people. Because there is no one “American culture,” it’s a great practice to take time and dig into the cultural roots of your region of the U.S. Whether you’re . . . 

• visiting historical sites in the Northeast
• listening to folk music in the Southeast
• taking in rock art in the Southwest
• creating your own art, 

. . . witnessing and contributing to local culture in our own unique way is how we keep weaving the tapestry of American culture generation after generation. 

2. Share Your Hospitality

Hospitality is a deeply rooted American value that goes beyond geography. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture – the simple act of opening up your home and sharing a meal together is the perfect way to build connections that could turn into meaningful friendship.

4. Share Your Adventure

From the Grand Canyon to hidden trails in your own backyard, America’s landscapes are invitations to explore. Sharing your America through adventure might mean hiking, biking, surfing, or just taking the long way home with the windows down. It’s about appreciating the freedom to roam — and encouraging others to step outside, breathe deeply, and discover what makes this land so awe-inspiring.

. . . witnessing and contributing to local culture in our own unique way is how we keep weaving the tapestry of American culture generation after generation.

The iE-USA Student Recognition Awards recognize students for their outstanding achievements in Academics, Athletics, Community, Volunteering, and as iE Ambassadors for their region in the U.S. Students currently on exchange in the U.S. were nominated by their host families, Local Coordinators, or iE staff members.

Out of dozens of nominations, the following students were selected to receive a 2024-25 iE-USA Student Recognition Award.

What’s it really like to be an exchange student in the U.S.?

Hosting an exchange student is a rewarding experience for everyone involved. But have you ever wondered what it looks like from a student’s perspective? We asked some of our current exchange students — Daria from Poland 🇵🇱, Julia from Spain, and Amina from Mongolia 🇲🇳 — to share a glimpse into their daily lives. From host family relationships to funny memories, you’ll get an inside look at how they’re adjusting, learning, and making the most of their time in the U.S.

Daria 🇵🇱: “I think at first it was a little bit challenging. The most different was the type of family for me because I never have any sibling and now I have 4. So that was probably the bigger shock for me.

I tried to talk, hanging out with them as much as I can to meet them better. Do the stuff that they like to do or just watch how they doing something that they like.

I think my advice for future student will be to not close yourself in a room, the host family probably would like to meet you more and they would like to spend good time with you and make this experience good and memorable for you. “

Julia 🇪🇸: “One of them is 20 years old, she is in college so I don’t see her much; but, the times we saw her we were laughing all the time, we have a pretty similar sense of humor, and our interest and hobbies are really similar too, so it was so easy to get along with her.

My other host sister is 17, so, one year older than me, I see her everyday and we do a lot of things together. We like to do the same things, we have the same hobbies, so again, it was really easy to get along with her. Living together and doing a lot of things together made our relationship stronger.

So, I would say both of my relationships with my host sisters are really good. They made me feel welcomed since the very beginning and they accepted me as a sister. I’m so happy to have them as host sisters!”

Amina 🇲🇳: “We attend church regularly! From Monday to Thursday, my host sister and I go to seminary in the morning. On Sundays, we participate in church from 12:00 to 2:00 PM. I’ve met so many wonderful people and made a lot of friends. I’m incredibly grateful that I started attending church with my host family!”

Julia 🇪🇸: “Yes! One day, my host sister, host mom, and me were in the living room watching a movie and talking. All of a sudden we look to the kitchen and we saw something that looked like a dog toy (we have two dogs, and one of them is a one year-old puppy, so we thought it was one of her toys), but we didn’t recognize it, and it was weird, so my host mom went to see what it was . . . Nothing similar to a dog toy . . . It was a possum! Our puppy brought us a possum at 10:30 at night!

That night we were all a little bit nervous (because possums act dead when they feel attacked so we didn’t know if it was dead or alive) but now it’s so funny to remember!”

Daria 🇵🇱: “I was sick one day and I was missing my mom’s soup so I asked my host mom if she could make me my favorite chicken soup — what she made was really good, but chicken soup in the U.S. and Polish chicken soup are totally different. I was sad at first, because I couldn’t eat something that tasted like home. I think it’s probably common for a lot of students that food is different than back in home.“

Amina 🇲🇳: “My host family supported me during difficult times by always being there to listen and offer guidance. They made me feel at home by checking in on me, encouraging me, and including me in family activities. Whether it was a tough day at school or feeling homesick, they reassured me and helped me navigate challenges with patience and kindness. Their support made my exchange experience so much easier and more meaningful.”

Amina 🇲🇳: “What I will miss most about my host family is the warmth and love they’ve shown me throughout my time here. From the little everyday moments—like eating dinner together and laughing over inside jokes—to the big adventures we’ve shared, they’ve truly made me feel like part of the family. I’ll miss our late-night talks, the support they’ve given me, and the feeling of home they created for me. No matter where I go, they will always hold a special place in my heart.”

“It was an easy yes,” Vicki said.

Around the same time, Vicki and her husband, Robert, found out they were expecting their son, Calvin, who is now 15 months old. Not every family would be willing to welcome another member to their family so soon after welcoming a baby, especially since Vicki and Robert already had two other children. Still, they were confident in Mara’s upbringing and knew she’d be a great addition to the family, and when they asked if she’d still be comfortable staying with them, she was all-in.

“It’s been really great — Mara is teaching him German!” Vicki laughed. “She’s very helpful around the house, and we can trust her to watch him if I’m taking a shower or running to the grocery store. So that part’s been really great.”

Mara, who has one older sister, says she was excited about the idea of having multiple host siblings. Prior to coming to the U.S., she didn’t feel nervous about having to adapt to a new family — she was more apprehensive about adjusting to a new school. Vicki, who works in education, was able to provide insight and support to help Mara in her transition.

Now halfway through her school year, Mara feels like she’s truly a part of her community — she’s active in ski club, volunteers with a local youth leadership organization, and goes to the gym during her free time.

She’s also made some incredible memories with her host family, she says, including visits to local attractions and trips to Toronto and Washington, D.C. One particularly memorable outing was a lunch with Vicki, Mara, and Vicki’s mother, who originally hosted Mara’s mom and sparked a lifelong intercultural connection all those years ago. 

“It was just us three girls, and that was really nice,” Vicki said. “Her parents also got to visit after Christmas, and it was great to spend time and have them here.”

Vicki’s advice for other families thinking about hosting an exchange student is simple — “include them in your family.”

“Their experience isn’t about being a guest, but it’s really about being involved as a member of your family,” Vicki said. “Take them to see your town and neighboring towns. You don’t have to go far, but there’s lots of things that they haven’t experienced in their countries.”

For Mara, her exchange year has been all about taking the leap and adapting as she goes.

“Before I left Germany, I was sad to say goodbye to everyone,” Mara said. “But I knew that there’s always a plane that goes back, but there’s never a second chance to go. So I would just do it, and usually it turns out really great for most people.” 

As far as post-high school plans, Mara isn’t sure yet whether she’ll end up home in Germany, or studying at a university in the U.S. But one thing is for certain — the bond between these two families will continue to reach across oceans and last a lifetime. 

Prior to hosting, Saladino said she worried that being a single parent family might take away from Rosaria’s experience in some way. But that concern quickly proved itself untrue once Rosaria arrived in the USA and the two of them quickly became like family.

Becoming family

“I miss having her here —  she brought humor, joy, and happiness to my home,” Saladino said. “I enjoyed seeing my culture through someone else’s eyes, and we had a lot of fun comparing things like foods, or phrases, or even children’s songs.”

They also got to travel around the region together, visiting nearby states including Missouri, North Carolina, Louisiana and other parts of Tennessee like Nashville and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Saladino was intentional about doing fun activities in the area with Rosaria to help her experience more of the local culture — from aquariums to museums to restaurants to bowling, and of course, a few movie nights at home with popcorn.

“I’ll never forget the first time we went to Walmart!” Saladino said. “We ate dinner together every night and would discuss how she was doing and what her experiences were like.”

Through all of their adventures together, Saladino said, the most formative moments were the mundane ones, like washing dishes or walking the dogs, and spending time over the holidays together. 

“A funny story – Rosaria was very thoughtful and decided to make me a cake for my birthday. However, it was getting late and she had school the next day. So, we put the candles in it quickly,” Saladino said. “Well, the cake hadn’t cooled enough and the candles melted in the middle! We had to eat the cake around the center part where the candles were.” 

Lasting connections

In the late winter of Rosaria’s year in the US, Saladino began planning a trip to Italy for the following summer. Since they had formed such a strong bond, she asked Rosaria (and her family) if they’d be okay with her taking a stop to visit them while on her solo adventure.

“I wanted to make sure it was okay with them because I ended up going just a short time after she had returned home, and I didn’t want to interrupt her adjustment of being back at home again,” Saladino said.

Best advice

When asked what advice she’d give to anyone, particularly a single-host parent home, who’s thinking about hosting, Saladino said “go for it!”

“I am so thankful for the opportunity to host a student,” Saladino said. “It was a wonderful experience.”

To Saladino, being open to sharing life with someone else was a key part of preparing to host — and in the end, it was well worth it. 

“You never know how both of your lives can change for the better,” she said.