Host Families

Meet Jala Washington, a CIEE BridgeUSA local coordinator based outside Austin, Texas. She’s also a reporter and weekend news anchor.

Student exchange coordinators are trusted community members who support international students and host families in the region.

Meet Kate Mann, a CIEE BridgeUSA local coordinator based in Irving, Texas. She’s been supporting exchange students and host families for three years while also working as a high school teacher.

In this Q&A, a Buffalo‑based host mom opens up about what it was like to welcome an exchange student during a season of change for her family.

In this Q&A, an 81-year-old host father looks back on nearly four decades of welcoming international exchange students – and hosting his final participant.

As the school year comes to a close, it may signal a new transition for your household: reverse culture shock.

Hosting an international exchange student is about opening your home to a new culture, new perspective, and a relationship that often lasts long after the program ends – for both you and your family.

For thousands of host families across the U.S., saying goodbye to an exchange student can have the opposite effect – marking the end of a year that felt anything but temporary.

Have you ever considered the life-changing impact of hosting a high school exchange student? Not only is it a memory-making experience for a teenager, but it can also be a rewarding opportunity for a host family.

Start thinking of ways to incorporate your student into your host family holiday activities.