CIEE BridgeUSA Host Families Blog

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

My name is Dolores (Didi) Gingue. I am a 52 year old mother of two adult children. My husband, Raymond, and I have been married for 26 years. We live... keep reading

Meet the Eikenhout family, from Michigan! This year, Emily and her family are hosting Magdalena from the Czech Republic. Check out Emily's video, to learn more about the beginning of... keep reading

On our student's 4th week with us, I pointed out the milestone by saying "Happy Month-a-versary!" To which she answered, "Really? it feels like its been forever!" We both smiled... keep reading

Hello and Welcome. Our names are Sean and Amanda Ironmonger and this is our first time hosting a foreign exchange student. We have been looking forward to this for many... keep reading

Hello friends and happy September! We are now 30 days into the host exchange life and I can say we LOVE it full heartedly! After spending SIX months waiting, praying... keep reading