CIEE BridgeUSA Host Families Blog

Host families are expected to help their international student arrange transportation. But don’t worry – this doesn't mean you must drive your student wherever they want to go!

As a family with kids of your own, are you concerned that you won’t have enough time to host an international student? If so, we’re here to help you rest... keep reading

Need a reason to host an international exchange student? Good, because we have 5 of them.

What strange days we are having right now. Many states have closed schools, and students are social distancing at home with their host families. How do you deal with a... keep reading

Hosting an exchange student impacts everyone involved for years to come after the exchange ends - it's what we call the "Lasting Impact" of exchanges. Sometimes, hosting even spans generations... keep reading

For American high school students, March is a very important time. The weather starts getting warmer and the beginning of spring looms in the air. However, one thing students are... keep reading

When my husband and I were planning our honeymoon, we had no idea where to go. He had spent over a decade traveling the world with the Navy while I... keep reading

So, you've decided to host an exchange student! Your interest may have come from friends or coworkers hosting, a newspaper article you read, a tv or radio interview with students... keep reading

Welcome to 2020! January is such a time of transition. If you are hosting a 10-month August student, you're halfway through your year. So crazy! If you've just finished your... keep reading

Happy holidays from Louisiana! How are you celebrating the holiday season with your exchange student? For exchange students, celebrating the holidays on their exchange year can be an unforgettable experience... keep reading

Adjusting to a new culture, a new family, and a new school can be hard. Pre-departure orientations and in-community orientations help prepare students for what they will encounter in their... keep reading

We are reaching the three month mark into our hosting adventure. The excitement and newness of it all has worn off, routine has settled in, and unexpected challenges have began... keep reading

We have just passed the 9 week mark with Alberto, our 5th exchange student. He’s settled in and other than the fact that he is perpetually late for everything (we... keep reading

Your new son or daughter from another country is here now and everything your Local Coordinator told you about adjusting to cross-cultural life is true! Hopefully you are having a... keep reading

Congratulations on making it this far! If this is your first-time hosting, pat yourself on the back. You have taken a big step by choosing to host an exchange student... keep reading