How to Decorate Your Exchange Student’s Bedroom
Yay! You are welcoming a teenager into your home! And they need a bedroom. First let me state that the government requires the student...
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A CRAZY INTERNATIONAL FAMILY
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WHY A BLOG?
The Story
Since we started hosting international exchange students we get asked a lot of questions: Why? How? Are you insane? We also get questions from new host families trying to navigate the exchange year. So I decided to write about my experiences and maybe answer some questions, or even better encourage someone to open their homes and hearts (Eek! Cliche I know!) to a student or two.
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A Double Placement Exchange Year
People thought we were crazy when we said we were going to host an exchange student. They wanted to commit us when we said we were going...
10 Questions to Ask Your New Exchange Student:
1. Do you have any questions for us? I usually start out communications with a quick summary of us, the school, and our area. And then...
Preparing for an Unusual Exchange Year: 2020-2021
The Covid-19 virus has come through and rocked all our worlds and continues to cause havoc worldwide. But it seems that things are slowly...
So, Now What?
So, our students for this year (class of 2020) have been gone, back to their home countries, for two weeks now. While I am still upset...
Are You Ready to Host an Exchange Student? Is it For You?
Are you ready for your life to change for 10 months? Are you ready to open your heart and home to foreign teenager? Are you ready to...
Disappointment
So our exchange students have been sent home and I am not sure what to write. We are all sad, angry, and disappointed. Ending their year...
Homesickness: It Happens
Homesickness happens. It does not happen to all students, it doesn’t always look the same, and it doesn’t happen at the same time for...
Money Matters: Budgeting and ExchangeMoney Matters: Budgeting and Exchange
Teenagers and money are a bad combination. And that is the blog post. Ha. Just kidding. Maybe. But in all seriousness, most exchange...
The Horror Story
Everyone involved in exchange students has heard a horror story, but this is the exception not the rule. As humans we tend review or...
Planning Vacations with Your Exchange Student
It’s vacation time!!! So are you asking yourself: can I take my student on vacation? Can I make them pay for their share? Who do I need...
Taboo Topics: Sex, Religion, and Politics
In polite society we tend to veer away from the taboo topics of sex, religion, and politics; though I personally believe talking about...
Grades: Despite What Your Student Might Think, They Are Important
Most of our students have had fantastic grades throughout their exchange year. But there are some that struggle a bit more. Some of this...
Touch Down: The Airport Pick Up
The big day has finally come!!! OMG!!! This post will be all about the airport pick-up. Ready? Start with checking in with your student...
American Friends: Does Your Student Have Any?
For some reason exchange students making friends here in America seems to be an issue across the board this year (2019/2020). This is our...
An Introduction
Who am I and who are we? I reference “I’ and “we” and “us” all the time and you might be asking who are these people? Who are the Crazy...
Is Hosting Parenting?
I am not a parent. I AM a host parent. So when hosting exchange students you are their custodian. You are a stand in parent and can make...
Utilizing Your Support Team: the IEC
Your International Exchange Coordinator (IEC) (lingo alert) is your first stop for questions or concerns during your exchange year (and...
High School Exchange is NOT High School Musical: Managing Expectations
Expectations. We have them. The students have them. Their parents have them. The school has them. The exchange organization has them....
A Vow of Communication
Communication is key. A super cliché saying that is super cliché for a reason. Communication can solve so many problems! Everyone from...
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