CIEE BridgeUSA Host Families Blog

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.

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.

After the holidays are over, it can be hard for an international teenager to get back to their routine. Learn how host families can beat the winter blues with their exchange student.

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

Flying many hours on a plane. Getting in a car with people they just met. Moving into an unfamiliar house in an equally unfamiliar area. It would be a lot... keep reading

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!

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

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

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

Not all CIEE host families host for a full academic year. Just as important are our welcome families. Welcome families "welcome" students into their home for a shorter amount of... keep reading