Dear Friend of ICES,

As quickly as it arrived, it seems that with the blink of an eye, summer is over.  When it goes as fast as this one did, it usually means that it was packed full of FUN!  That means vacations, summer holiday celebrations and festivals, and long summer days by pools, lakes, and rivers.  It meant saying good-bye to last year's students as they packed up their memories and headed back to their home countries.  And it has also been a very busy season of discovering host families (some returning, and some brand new!) for students that have been arriving in August, with some arriving in early September.  So with school starting, and fall right around the corner, our new students are just starting their year of adventure in the USA! 

Where Did They All Come From?

A Quick Summary

Every year, ICES brings students from all over the world to have a unique American adventure.  Some travel relatively short distances, while others come literally from the other side of the world.  If you are asked where our ICES students are from this year, here is a recap of this year's "Country of Origin" list:

Aland Islands, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Martinique, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Poland, Reunion, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.

37 countries, 6 continents, a multitude of cultures, and all with one destination; The United States of America!

Arrivals, Arrivals, Arrivals!

The excitement!  The anticipation!  The thrill of that first meeting!  And it usually happens at the airport, in front of a sometimes small, sometimes large, group of curious observers.  For some, it's the first time they've set foot on American soil.  Welcome to the USA!

Then Once They're Here...

Northern California Orientation

It's Orientation Time!

Once a student arrives, it is important that they set appropriate expectations and have all of the ICES rules and regulations explained.  Not only is it a Department of State requirement, but it also helps to build the foundation of understanding that will contribute to an excellent exchange experience.  But there's no reason that student orientations can't also be a lot of fun!  Many regions make the most of having all of their students together for the first time to have a pool party, play games, or even visit a carousel, and begin creating friendships that will last a lifetime.  

The Cody family with Mabel (Spain) at the Colorado/Kansas Orientation

Oklahoma Orientation

Ohio Orientation

Oklahoma Orientation

Summer blogging

Share the USA with Your Exchange Student - a Monthly Guide

All across the country, teens from around the world are diving into their exchange with the goal of learning about American culture by living it. Here’s a month-by-month guide to get started sharing life in the USA with your student!

Study Abroad: Semester or Academic Year?

Everyone knows that deciding to study abroad in high school is a big decision. However, what some people don’t realize is that there are also a multitude of smaller decisions that accompany this first one...  Find out what they are and how to address them!

Why I Host Exchange Students

Have you ever wondered why families invite a foreign teen to live with them for 5-10 months?  And why many families do it over and over?  We asked some of our wonderful host families this question, and they can share with you firsthand exactly why they host.

10 Culture Shocks in the USA

Exchange students have arrived, and they brought their magic glasses with them to the USA. Let’s look through their lenses for fresh perspectives on ordinary American life. These are some of their biggest culture shocks.

Students of the Month!

At the end of last school year, we renamed the ICES Student of the Month… to the ICES Students Of The Month. In a fun and unusual twist of fate, one of our double placements (two students in the same household) was nominated and WON! Let's find out about these two young ladies who enjoyed their exchange in Alva, Oklahoma: Maria Salatini from Italy and Myriam Ajmia from France.

ICES Study Abroad

The first week and a half in a new country can be a combination of exciting, scary, fun, overwhelming, and adventurous.  Marlee, a US student participating in the ICES Study Abroad program in Argentina, has gotten off to a great start!  We'll let her tell you a little about what her first days there have been like.

When I arrived, I spent three days in a hostel in Rosario with 5 other exchange students. We toured the city, learned some Spanish, and tried some local cuisine while learning more about the program.

After the ”soft landing program” ended, I packed up my stuff and met my incredible host family. We had lunch together in Rosario and then drove an hour to Cañada de Gomez where I will be living and attending school. 

The second and third full days in Cañada de Gomez were great because school was out. On Tuesday, Luci (my host sister) and I went to the park to hang out with a bunch of friends and have Mate (local drink) which I don’t love but I don’t hate either. On Wednesday, I accompanied Luci to her English classes and we had fun talking about my culture and getting to know each other better.

Then I cooked stroganoff for the family and two friends and we all enjoyed hanging out that night. 

ICES is excited to send American Students (like Marlee) to other countries through our Study Abroad Program!  It's a great way to:

• Learn a new language and culture
• Become more independent
• Make new friends and build lifelong bonds
• See the world

If you know a student that would be interested in the ICES Study Abroad experience, simply direct them to the link below.

Keep in touch

"Bridging the gap of cultural diversity through high school youth exchange is the most important and effective way to for our youth to come together as one to build a better tomorrow for our world and loved ones." ~ John Crist, President and CEO, ICES

There are several ways you can keep in touch with all things ICES this year, and for years to come.

• To subscribe to the official ICES Blog, click here. 
• To follow the ICES National Facebook page, click here.
• And if just want more information about ICES and our ongoing mission to positively impact the world through cultural exchange, visit our website.

New Things Photo Contest

During the month of September, ICES students have the chance to win one of three $100 Visa gift cards by sharing a picture of a new food, activity, or place they’ve experienced.  Encourage your students to enter the New Things Photo Contest! Details are here.

Just Getting Started

The beginning of an exchange year can be filled with wonderful experiences.  Share your "welcome" photos, first impressions, and arrival stories from the start of this exchange year, and you might just see them pop up in our social media, blog, or newsletter.

Send your new memories to stories@icesusa.org. Please include the student's name, home country, and the host family's name and home state.

Here's to a great year!