An exchange student has been invited to have some fun on Halloween: but is it a cultural norm or a dangerous pitfall?

Exchange students might find themselves struggling to navigate peer expectations, but you can help! Discuss some common teen activities and talk about which ones are dangerous or off limits. Establish boundaries to help your student have a safe and fun Halloween!

1. Curfew 

Halloween is a perfect time to establish a curfew and/or check-in times. Remind your student that your intent is to keep them safe!  

2. Contacts 

It’s helpful to know where and with whom your student will be spending time on Halloween. If it’s not with you, ask for the names and phone numbers of the friends/parents he or she will be with. You’ll know who to contact in the event of an emergency!

3. Alcohol 

Unfortunately, many American teens do drink alcohol, especially at parties. An exchange student is entrusted with the privilege of being an ambassador for his or her country and maintaining a higher standard!  Breaking the law by consuming alcohol can have serious repercussions, so Halloween is an excellent time to remind students to resist peer pressure.

4. Vandalism

Some vandalism may seem innocent, but your exchange student needs to understand that all vandalism is a crime. Just as they should abstain from alcohol, they should not be involved in vandalism.

5. Safe Word 

Sometimes it’s hard to tell your friends you’re uncomfortable with what they’re doing – ESPECIALLY when you’re an exchange student. Plan in advance a “safe word” that your student can text you to indicate “I need help!”

Autumn in America can be a magical time for an exchange student, bringing ample opportunities to experience American-born traditions! Halloween, corn mazes, football games, pumpkin pie, hayrides, you name it! Whether you’re new to the U.S. or simply looking through new eyes, you’ll love this collection of time-tested fall customs that are PERFECT for the whole family.

Our Top 7 Fall Favorites!

#1 – Grab some cans of pumpkin and START BAKING!

Pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie… The smell of cinnamon and nutmeg wafting through the house? Luxurious! The fun of baking (and eating!) together? Harmonious! The joy of presenting an exchange student with his FIRST EVER stack of pumpkin pancakes? Priceless!

#2 – GET LOST in a corn maze!

What’s more American than getting lost in a field of corn? Not much! Check online to find fall festivals and pumpkin patches near you. Of course you’ll also want to take advantage of the caramel apples, wagon rides, and other festivities!

#3 – Hit the Friday Night Lights!

Nothing showcases “school spirit” (an American phenomenon) quite like a high school football game! Go as a family. Buy the BIG bag of popcorn. Chant with the cheerleaders. Stand up and start a crowd-wave. THIS is the magic of American high school sports! Embrace it!

#4 – Carve jack-o-lanterns!

Oh yes: it’s messy, time-consuming, and often anti-climactic – but this is ONE custom your student will love! Create a jack-o-lantern family or get creative. There are tons of ideas here!

#5 – Toast marshmallows, and better yet, create some classic s’mores!

The perfect blend of activity + dessert, all while huddling in the brisk night air amidst casual conversation. An American classic to be sure, and a great side-by-side activity to make lasting memories!

#6 – TRICK-or-TREAT!

Think it’s just for kids? Not a chance! Take the whole family trick-or-treating, and be sure you spend some time finding just the right costume! Not into Halloween? You’ll love these alternatives! Try a “trunk-or-treat” event or fall festival at your local church or community center. So many ways to celebrate!

#7 – STAY REAL.

This isn’t an activity per se, but it may as well be one!  (And it should really be at the top!)

Behind you lies adjustment and culture shock. Ahead of you: the holiday rush. Any member of your family may at ANY time feel elated or exhausted, delighted or depressed. It’s normal! The “fall wall” can bring the best of us down, but don’t stay there! Autumn is the perfect time to re-assess your expectations, take a deep breath, and love your family.  You’re making memories! You’re living the journey! Keep calm and keep it real.

Trick-or-Treat

Many families assume the best time to host a student is when they have at least one teenage child in the home. “We’ll think about hosting when our kids are older.” But, truth be told, many families enjoy the “older sibling” dynamic that comes with hosting a student while their own children are still young!

The Hoods had a full house long before they agreed to host an exchange student, but they knew they still had enough love to go around! With 4 children ages 5-11, this Illinois family embraced 14 year old Elif from Germany as their own – and the Hood children gained an instant big sister!  

We often hear from host PARENTS, but we’d love to give you a glimpse of what it feels like to be a host SIBLING. Enjoy this precious peak inside the Hood family:

What’s it like to have an exchange student in your home? 

“I enjoy having an older sister.  It’s a new experience having someone older than me because I’m the oldest child in our family.  I like trying German foods and especially the candy.” – Emily,  age 11

What has been your favorite memory so far?

“When Elif and I went on all of the roller coasters at Six Flags.  I liked having someone that would go on all of the scary roller rides with me.” –  Emily, age 11

“My favorite memory was when me and my friends pulled her around in the backyard in a red wagon and pretended to be ghost hunters.” –  Alex, age 10

“When we went to the Hot Air Balloon Glow.  I liked showing her which balloons were my favorite.” – Megan, age 8

“Playing with her.  I like talking to her. I like going on walks with her.  And eating cotton candy with her!” –  Grace, age 5

Is hosting a student different than you expected?

 “Yes, I thought it would feel a little weird having someone other than family in our house all of the time, but it’s not weird at all.  She feels like she really is part of our family.” – Emily, age 11

 “I wasn’t expecting her to eat so much cotton candy!” –  Megan, age 8

Would you recommend that other families consider hosting?

 “Yes, it’s an experience that not many families get to have, and I’m so happy that my family gets to.” –  Emily, age 11

 “It’s fun to have a new friend/family member in the house to play with.” – Alex, age 10

 “Yes, because you get another brother or sister.  Someone else to play with.” – Megan, age 8

 

Ready to gain a sibling in YOUR house? Join the journey at IE-USA.org.

It’s been several years since exchange student Mareike ventured from Germany to the U.S., but the memories she made with her one-of-a-kind host grandmother still tug at her heart every day.

Is hosting just boarding a student for a year? Far from it. The family ties that extend from this sweet relationship defy explanation, and yet it’s a real phenomenon we see time and again.

Enjoy Mareike’s touching tribute to her American grandmother who is fighting cancer. Let it be a glimpse into the hearts of these students who put their trust in our families and communities.

Hosting an exchange student is a true EXPERIENCE that is second-to-none! With that experience comes a rich, dynamic relationship, not a boring status-quo. So what can a host family do to truly engage and enjoy this adventure to the fullest? We love some of the wisdom shared by our previous host families!

• Remember that your student will be different than your family. We discovered much more joy when we stepped back and let our host daughter be who she was instead of wishing she matched our own ideals. That’s when we really got to know her on a deeper level!

• Expect your student to become a real part of the family! But remember, with that familiarity comes forgetfulness, messiness, and a full range of normal teen behaviors. At first our host son was extremely polite all the time, but when he got more comfortable, he relaxed a lot. Our Coordinator reminded us that this is GOOD — he felt comfortable with us!

• More than anything, your student will want to know he or she is really part of the family, so treat them like a family member from the very first day. Going to the grocery? Ask if they’d like to ride along. Taking a walk? Bring them with you. Making dinner? Have them peel the potatoes!

• Our student needed a lot of time in her bedroom at the end of the day. Don’t be offended if this happens to you! Most teenagers I know like to spend a good amount of time by themselves, and exchange students seem to need extra “down time” after an exhausting day of living in English.

• Laugh! Relax! We started out taking everything too seriously, and nobody was very happy. When we learned to relax and just have fun together, it changed for the better.

Have you joined the journey?

Visit us at IE-USA.org to learn more!

Culture shock is a real, physical and psychological phenomenon – but what IS it? By understanding its patterns, exchange students and host families are so much better equipped to cope!

Cultural adjustment typically follows these patterns:

STAGE 1: “The Honeymoon”— Excitement!

• Excitement with new sounds, sights, smells (like a tourist)
• Lots of interest in learning, very motivated and cooperative
• You feel as if you will be able to handle anything— “I am not going to have any problems adjusting!”

STAGE 2: “Culture Shock”— Irritation/Hostility 

• The novelty of the new culture has worn off, and you now focus primarily on the differences between the new culture and your home culture.
• Small differences feel like major catastrophes. You become overly concerned with and stressed out by problems and feel helpless and frustrated (teachers at school are assigning a lot of homework, the water tastes different, the bathroom stalls at school aren’t full doors, you can’t get the classes you want, etc.)
• You are homesick. You miss your friends and family back home—and to make matters worse, you hear that the weather back home is glorious and all your friends are having a big party and a grand time without you.

STAGE 3: Gradual Adjustment, Humor, and Perspective 

• You feel more comfortable and less isolated, and you even begin to prefer some aspects of the American culture to your home culture.
• You feel like “As long as I am here, I should make the most of it.”  You experience periodic personal highs and lows as adjustment gradually takes place.
• Your sense of humor returns. You are able to laugh at certain ways of doing things that previously just annoyed you and even to laugh at yourself from time to time.

STAGE 4: “Feeling at Home”— Adaptation and Biculturalism 

• The “new” culture is no longer new; instead, the “foreign” country you live in now feels like another home.
• The aspects of American culture that are different from your home country no longer affect you in a negative way. You are able to live and work to your full potential.
• Just like you do back home, you appreciate certain aspects of the American culture and are critical of others.

Understanding culture shock is half the battle! Next, use these time-tested strategies to help you cope:

Personal Supports

• Understand the stages of cultural adjustment.  Expect things to be different.
• Be patient; don’t try to understand everything immediately; identify what helps you manage stress.
• Identify ways of thinking positively; foster your sense of humor; don’t take things too seriously; give yourself permission to fail.

Social Supports 

• Identify your local sources of support (iE local coordinator and regional director, other exchange students, host family, teachers, etc.) and the types of support that each can offer.
• Plan in advance how you will keep in contact with family and friends back home. Be intentional, but don’t over-do it.
• Don’t isolate yourself! Seek out friends and groups that share your interests and can facilitate your participation in social circles.

Physical Supports 

• Eat in a healthy way and get plenty of rest.
• Identify any problems (e.g. not eating, binge eating, phone use) and make plans to manage them.
• Find safe and fun ways to exercise on a regular basis.

*Originally conceptualized by anthropologist Kalervo Oberg in a talk to the Women’s Club of Rio de Janeiro in 1954.

**Adapted and abbreviated from the office of International Programs at Princeton University, Cultural Adjustment Information

Each summer, IE sends a select group of American teens and host siblings to Germany for three weeks. As a short-term cultural experience (with no language requirement!), the German Immersion Program is a fantastic way to further the goal of cultural connection and understanding!

We LOVE what Brandon shared about his experience abroad!

Are you interested in learning more about the German Immersion Program?

Visit IE-USA.org to connect with our staff!

They’re HERE!!! (Now what?!)

Your student has been planning this exchange for months (if not years!) and NOW, at long last, it has finally arrived! And while some students will “take off running” with friends and activities, most will need a little help finding their bearings.

Here are some simple, practical ways you can help them feel engaged and equipped:

#1 – Make a meal together -and clean up together, too!

Side-by-side activities are often the best way to build a real relationship, and even an uncomplicated 30 minutes in the kitchen together can help build a family bond. Ask your student to peel potatoes while you chat about your days. Include him/her in the conversation but also allow them to just listen in and be one of the gang. In the same way, inviting the student to help you clear the table or rinse the dishes sends a very clear message: “You belong here! You’re not a guest, you’re a member of the family.”

#2 – Take a walk around your neighborhood.

This may seem incredibly mundane, but remember: they’re new here! They’re probably thrilled to see life through your eyes! This is another simple side-by-side activity that will help solidify that bond.

#3 – Include your student in whatever you’re already doing!

Does that sound too simple? Perhaps it is, but you’d be surprised how powerful it can be! When you include your student in your day-to-day plans (as much as possible), you open up an entire world of potential friends and experiences! Churches, youth groups, 4-H clubs, sports leagues, book clubs, volunteer organizations – these are all wonderful places for a student to “plug in” and meet friends.

#4 – Go to the Guidance Counselor!

One of the BEST ways for students to settle in and avoid culture shock is to meet friends, but most students don’t automatically know what that looks like. Joining a club, sport, or other school activity is a great way to make new friends, and the guidance counselor can help! Help your student arrange a meeting with the guidance counselor, then choose 1-2 activities that they can try initially. (And here’s a TIP: if after school transportation is an issue for your family, help your student find activities that meet during the school day: choir, newspaper, yearbook, photography, etc.)

#5 – Make a Bucket List – TOGETHER.

What experiences would you like to share? What would your student most like to try before leaving America? Make a list of your plans, and then get them on the calendar! Even seemingly small or simple plans can be a constant source of encouragement: there is always something to look forward to!

We love sharing the adventure of student exchange! But what if a family can’t host for the full school year? Easy! They can help as a welcome family!

What is a “welcome family?”

A welcome family hosts a student on a short-term basis at the beginning of the school year.

Why are welcome families important?

Welcome families fill an important role by allowing a student to come to the U.S. and begin the exchange year! Welcome families offer the warmth and support of family while we secure a permanent placement. All students must be placed in a host home by August 31, so we work with welcome families to help ensure we can meet that deadline for every student in our program.  With the support of our schools and communities, we work hard to make sure “no child is left behind!”

What benefits can a welcome family expect?

Welcome families, like permanent families, enjoy the opportunity to connect with a high school student from another country. The shorter time commitment allows nearly any family the opportunity to host a student!

How long does a welcome family typically host?

We work with our families to establish their preference and availability, but the average welcome family placement lasts between 3-6 weeks.

How does a welcome family become approved to host?

Welcome families complete the same application process as permanent host families, including an online application, criminal background check, in-home interview, and character references.

Who is a good candidate to become a welcome family?

Anyone who genuinely wants to serve a student but is not able to host long-term should consider hosting as a welcome family!

Ready to begin? Visit IE-USA.org to view profiles of students!

In addition to the simple FUN of hosting, student exchange serves a far bigger purpose. These passionate students, who are so eager to experience our heritage and to share their own, can be good medicine for a world torn by terror.

In recent weeks, all eyes have turned to Rio and the Olympic games. But as we cheer on Phelps, Biles, and Ledecky, many of us quietly hold our breath:  rumors of a potential terrorist threat are woven through the press and shared on social media. The result? FEAR.  “International,” a word once celebrated as exciting and elite, now feels scary and oppressive.

And yet – WE have a choice!

If we want to break down prejudices and build understanding (even in the face of terror), RELATIONSHIP is the most likely antidote! REAL relationships with other human beings! This is where student exchange comes in! Welcoming an international student is a simple, tangible way to teach our children that different is NOT dangerous. When students engage with a classmate from Germany or Thailand, they begin to see the world differently. They become more likely to judge the country based on their friendship (and not the other way around).

In short: exchange students provide a much-needed way to let “global” be GOOD again!

Help be part of the solution. The effects are far greater than you would ever expect.

Begin your journey at www.IE-USA.org