Meet Our Students
For many CIEE High School USA students, coming to America is their first trip away from home. It’s the most exciting adventure they’ve ever had, and their enthusiasm shows!
Rafi 16M Indonesia
Introduction Message: To achieve my goals, it takes hard work and a high work ethic, which are deeply rooted in my personality. I love playing soccer and look forward to... keep reading
Alberto 17M Italy
Introduction Message: I am a very empathic person who is available and always there towards others. I like to spend time with my friends with whom I love to laugh... keep reading
Hania 15F Pakistan
Introduction Message: I'm Hania. I am a responsible and caring person. My hobbies are baking, cooking, painting and reading. I really am eager to meet you and from this experience... keep reading
Olivia 15F Germany
Introduction Message: I am an open and happy person and I love to be active and try out new things. I like music, no matter if it’s listening to music... keep reading
Theo 16M Germany
Introduction Message: I'm a very outgoing, social and trustworthy person. I love to spend my time with friends and having fun together while doing activities like listening to music, playing... keep reading
Juan 17M Mexico
Introduction Message: I am very exited to be part of this program and I want to get you know a little of me. So to start I live with my... keep reading
Jeun 15F South Korea
Introduction Message: Hello, I’m Jueun. When I first meet new people, I can seem a bit passive. However, after meeting them a few times, this passive attitude disappears and a... keep reading
Miriam 15F Germany
Introduction Message: I always try to be empathic to keep my social circle positive, making sure people don't dwell on worries. Overall, I prefer spending time with my close group... keep reading
Marco 16M Mexico
Introduction Message: Dear host family: thank you very much for accepting me this year in your home, I tell you that I am a 15-year-old boy, who really likes sports... keep reading
Giorgi 15M Georgia
Introduction Message: I love solving puzzles, most people say I’m open minded and can think of solutions in hard situations. I love playing volleyball, table tennis and solving math and... keep reading
Luca 17M Belgium
Introduction Message: I’m a sociable person, who adapts easily to new situations and who is open-minded. Those around me say I’m caring and responsible. I can be independent but i... keep reading
Szymon 18M Poland
Introduction Message: I am into an active lifestyle, since childhood my favorite summer activities have been skiing and hiking. I like to keep my hands busy, while at summer house... keep reading
Farabi 15M Kazakhstan
Introduction Message: In my free time, I am passionate about chess, debating, and programming. I hold the position of the school president in my school and enjoy organizing various events... keep reading
Sota 17M Japan
Introduction Message: Nice to meet you! I like watching animation, cooking, something and listening to music. I'm not good at sports, but I want to play. I'm shy and don't... keep reading
Shant 17M Armenia
Introduction Message: Hi, I am Shant, 16 years old. I live in Armenia, and I study in the 11th grade of high school. Before proceeding to my essay, I would... keep reading
Jimena 15F Spain
Introduction Message: I am fun, empathetic and I try to make my friends laugh to have a good time. I am also talkative and extroverted although until I gain confidence... keep reading
Rafi 16M Indonesia
Introduction Message: To achieve my goals, it takes hard work and a high work ethic, which are deeply rooted in my personality. I love playing soccer and look forward to... keep reading
Renata 15F Mexico
Introduction Message: Hello, I'm Renata, I consider myself an interesting and open person who loves to meet new people and create lasting memories. I enjoy spending time with my family... keep reading
Joaquim 16M Brazil
Introduction Message: I am a funny, talkative and social person, I like to spend my free time in many different ways, such as: playing video games, watching motorsports, watching or... keep reading
Renato 16M Brazil
Introduction Message: I like pets, I like sports, I like going out with my friends, I like talking to my parents and my friends, I have a sister, I have... keep reading
Ana 17F Germany
Introduction Message: Dear Potential Host Family, Excited to introduce myself! Described as cheerful and outgoing, I prioritize creating a positive vibe. I am also a very punctual and determined person... keep reading
Larissa 17F Brazil
Introduction Message: I consider myself a very outgoing girl who makes friends very easy, I am always willing to help others. I love learning new things and playing sports, one... keep reading
Antoine 15M France
Introduction Message: Hello, I’m a curious 15 years old. I’m always courteous fine and helpful. On my free time I like to swim and play badminton. I also like to... keep reading
Salman 15M Pakistan
Introduction Message: I am very fascinated by the way a computer and AI model works. I love reading realistic, non fictional novels and listening to rap songs. Besides I also... keep reading
Carolina 17F Brazil
Introduction Message: I am a very active person, fun and social. I want to make friends, I like to spend my free time practicing sports, watching series, or chatting. During... keep reading
Haifaa 16 F Germany
Introduction Message: I love laughing and everybody says that the good thing about me is that I can turn a bad situation into a good one. I love to stay... keep reading
Alejandro 16M Mexico
Introduction Message: Hello family!!Thank you for the interest I would like to tell you a little about my way of being, routine and daily activities. I am someone who enjoys... keep reading
Duanduan 16F China
Introduction Message: I am an optimistic girl and I always try my best. In my sapre time, may stay in my room, listening to my CDs, playing an instrument, reading... keep reading
Mariana 17F Brazil
Introduction Message: I'm a very social person I love to talk, I think that's my biggest strength. I'm very intense, when I'm happy I'm really happy, when I'm sad I'm... keep reading
Lea 18F Belgium
Introduction Message: Hey! My name is Lea and I'm a sociable girl, very smiley and I easily adapt to different situations or environments. I'm curious and I love to learn... keep reading
Sara 15F Spain
Introduction Message: I describe myself as a very talkative and social person, that is why I have so many friends, but many people describe me as a sympathetic and funny... keep reading
Maximilian 16M Germany
Introduction Message: I am a kind, communicative, curious and open-minded person who likes to spend time with family and friends. I like to laugh and people say that I always... keep reading
Marco 16M Italy
Introduction Message: I love smile at life even in bad moments. I am very friendly and available. I enjoy sport and I love practice it: I play basketball in the... keep reading
Min-Jin 16M Germany
Introduction Message: I'm a happy, kind and active person who is eager to connect with others. I enjoy sports like volleyball, tennis, and golf. I'm also passionate about music and... keep reading
Irene 15F Spain
Introduction Message: I'm observant person with clear ideas and open mind. Everybody says I'm positive, generous and empathetic with a great sense of humor. I love dogs and cats, but... keep reading
Rayan 15M Spain
Introduction Message: I’m a kind, reliable and honest person. I love meeting new people, specially from other countries who have different cultures. I think getting to meet people from other... keep reading
Francesca 16F Italy
Introduction Message: Everyone says that I'm chatty, determined and funny. I always try to put everyone around me in a good mood. I like listening to music and going to... keep reading
Svenja 16F Germany
Introduction Message: I’m a very active and well organized person. I play the bass in band and sometimes ukulele and guitar at home. I do Brasilien jujitsu and love to... keep reading
Adriano 15M Spain
Introduction Message: I am a extroverted person who likes to talk with other people and very optimistic. I like to do a lot of sports like soccer, basketball, volleyball and... keep reading
Martina 16F Italy
Introduction Message: Dear host family, My name is Martina. My day starts early with school and tennis, a passion of mine. I love traveling and sharing experiences with friends and... keep reading
Quentin 17M France
Introduction Message: My name is Quentin, a young professional with a consistently positive temperament. As a calm and sociable teenager, I strike a balance between my professional commitments and moments... keep reading
Amelie 15F Germany
Introduction Message: I’m a very curious and open person. I love to experience new things and adventures. In my free time I like to do something in science (especially Biology... keep reading
Giorgia 16F Italy
Introduction Message: I’m nice to everyone and if someone needs me I’ll always be there for them. I'm creative, ambitious and reserved. I like drawing, reading and listening to rock... keep reading
Carlos 16M Spain
Introduction Message: I may seem shy at first, but I am really sociable, fun, and happy. I do not like to be too busy, but in my free time, I... keep reading
Jairo 16M Spain
Introduction Message: I am a pleasant person to spend time with, and also have a very goofy sense of humor. I would also say I am pretty sociable for an... keep reading
Martina 16F Italy
Introduction Message: What about me? Hello! I’m Martina, I’m Italian, I’m sociable with everyone, I’m talkative and warm hearted. I like studying languages, hanging out with friends and travelling with... keep reading
Samira 16F Germany
Introduction Message: I love doing things with my friends they say that I am helpful, reliable, lovable, funny, uncomplicated. My favourite sports are weight lifting, tennis, volleyball. In free time... keep reading
Nicolas 16M Mexico
Introduction Message: Dear host family: Hy my name is Nicolas, but all my friends call me Tanque I consider myself calm, friendly, respectful and patient. I live with my parents... keep reading
Alice 16F Italy
Introduction Message: I am a sunny girl, responsible and sometimes reserved, depending on situations. I’m a lot of fun when I’m familiar with people, like my friends. I like to... keep reading
Alejandro 17M Spain
Introduction Message: I am a very positive and optimistic person, I love to laugh, I am responsible, talkative and very sociable. I like music and when I have free time... keep reading
Yixin 16M China
Introduction Message: I am a 15 years old boy from China. I am optimistic and I am easy to make friends. I am friendly. I love bicycling or playing basketball... keep reading
Daniel 15M Spain
Introduction: I consider myself a busy but happy person who always do everything calmly. My friends usually say that I am fantastic at finding solutions for whatever. In my free... keep reading
Honey, I'm Home!
What strange days we are having right now. Many states have closed schools, and students are social distancing at home with their host families. How do you deal with a... keep reading
Dear Host Family Letter from Daiana
We asked our students to write a letter and submit a photo about their host family as a part of our “Dear Host Family” contest on social media. Students were... keep reading
Dear Host Family Letter from Julia
We asked our students to write a letter and submit a photo about their host family as a part of our “Dear Host Family” contest on social media. Students were... keep reading
Dear Host Family Letter from Johanna
We asked our students to write a letter and submit a photo about their host family as a part of our “Dear Host Family” contest on social media. Students were... keep reading
Hosting Across Generations
Hosting an exchange student impacts everyone involved for years to come after the exchange ends - it's what we call the "Lasting Impact" of exchanges. Sometimes, hosting even spans generations... keep reading
Support: How to Travel With Your Exchange Student
For American high school students, March is a very important time. The weather starts getting warmer and the beginning of spring looms in the air. However, one thing students are... keep reading
Adventure Rediscovered
When my husband and I were planning our honeymoon, we had no idea where to go. He had spent over a decade traveling the world with the Navy while I... keep reading
You're not Alone!
So, you've decided to host an exchange student! Your interest may have come from friends or coworkers hosting, a newspaper article you read, a tv or radio interview with students... keep reading
Days Off
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
How to help your exchange student get around
CIEE High School USA participants are not allowed to drive. As such, host families are expected to help their international student arrange transportation. But don’t worry – this does not... keep reading
Happy Holidays!
Happy holidays from Louisiana! How are you celebrating the holiday season with your exchange student? For exchange students, celebrating the holidays on their exchange year can be an unforgettable experience... keep reading
Helping your student
Adjusting to a new culture, a new family, and a new school can be hard. Pre-departure orientations and in-community orientations help prepare students for what they will encounter in their... keep reading
Too much information!
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
Settling in
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
Support: Sometimes You Need It!
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
Communication
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
What is it like to be a welcome family
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
Happy Hosting from Vermont!
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
Ahoj
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
Making dreams come true
My name is Gil Roy. My Wife and I started to host our first exchange student in 2009. Our first student came from Moldova in September 2009. Seven months later... keep reading
Feels like forever!
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
And so we begin
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
New Adventures Begin
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
So you think you want to host?
I remember when I called my parents to tell them I had decided to host an exchange student. A 15 year old exchange student. Me, a 31 year old, single... keep reading
First time for everything!
Hello, My name is Michael and I'm apparently, now, a blogger! As for my host family, it's just me, so no other names to share. I'm a high school teacher... keep reading
Our "Sorting Hat" Ceremony
Once we decided we would be host parents and our approvals had come through, we were so excited to look through profiles and select our student- until it actually came... keep reading
I Dream of Hosting
I have been brewing over the idea of one day hosting a student for what seemed like an eternity. YES, an eternity... In the 7th grade, back in the day... keep reading
#CIEEHostFamilyAdvice: Preparing for Arrival
We might have over 70 years of experience in international exchange, but our host families are the real exports! Every month, we ask our community to share with us their... keep reading
Host Family Guide: End of Year Logistics
The end of the exchange year brings with it both exciting events and difficult goodbyes, but it also comes with its fair share of questions and “loose ends.” Your student... keep reading
End-of-Year Advice From Experienced Host Families
Life changing experiences deserve a little acknowledgment and processing--and an exchange year is a life changing experience for everyone involved! As this year wraps up, set aside some time to... keep reading
How To Beat the Winter Blues As A Host Family
Got the winter blues? This is the time of year that host families often feel burnt out and ready for the school year to come to an end. It is... keep reading
An Interview with Matt Smith
We sat down with Matt Smith, Executive Vice President of International Exchange Programs, to talk about his many years of experience with academic exchange, and his passion for travel and... keep reading
Traveling With Your International Student
Traveling can be a great way to spend your international student’s winter break, as it gives you an opportunity to share another part of American culture with them, and to... keep reading
Cultural Adjustment: Understanding What Your Student Feels
In past installments of the host family newsletter, we have provided tips and advice to help you manage cultural adjustment issues during the holidays; now, we would like to tackle... keep reading
Keeping Your Student Active and Engaged During the Holidays
The holiday break can be a challenging time for exchange students. Being away from school and their newfound American friends leaves much time to be filled. If this time is... keep reading
Exchange Students and Technology
The Support Team at CIEE fields many questions about exchange student’s technology use and how to facilitate healthier student/family interaction. It’s all about balance! Cell phones, computers, and tablets can... keep reading
Host Family Guide: Urban Transportation
CIEE High School USA participants are not allowed to drive. As such, host families are responsible for helping their international students get to and from school and extracurricular activities. However... keep reading
Hosting an International Student: How Much Will It Cost?
Host families are unpaid volunteers with an interest in and passion for cultural exchange. But as a potential host family, you may be wondering: How much does it cost to... keep reading
How It Works: Hosting in Families Without Kids in the House
Even if you don’t have your own kids or your kids have grown up and moved out, you can still make a wonderful host family. In fact, our unique placement... keep reading
How It Works: Hosting in Families With Kids
As a family with kids of your own, are you concerned that you won’t have enough time to host an international student? If so, we’re here to help you rest... keep reading
How It Works: Host Family Placements
CIEE High School USA students come from 70 different countries. They speak many languages, practice many religions, and eat so many different cuisines that it would make you hungry to... keep reading
What Is Hosting? (And Why You Should Host!)
CIEE host families (also known as a homestay families) welcome a dedicated, studious, and excited international student into their home for a semester- or year-long High School USA program. As... keep reading
Haoyu and the Flynn Family
This year, the Flynn family from Missouri hosted Haoyu from China! Here's a look at all of the fun they've been having: We have gone ziplining, visited Kansas City, Abilene... keep reading
My Host Family Is My Second Family
Wei Song tells us about his host family in Arizona: My host family it's my second family. They give me help in every singe way. When they know that I... keep reading
It surprised me how open our small community is to foreign students
For Host Family Appreciation Week, we reached out to our Local Coordinators and asked them what host families mean to them, and why host families make such a difference in... keep reading
Host parents are the true heroes of the story
For Host Family Appreciation Week, we reached out to our Local Coordinators and asked them what host families mean to them, and why host families make such a difference in... keep reading
We are learning Portuguese
The Foster family resides in Milford, Delaware and is made up of host mom Katresa, host dad Micheal, their young daughter Finlee, and dog Boots. As a first time host... keep reading
We’ve learned to slow down and enjoy each moment as it comes
This week is Host Family Appreciation Week at CIEE. We reached out to our host families and asked them to submit stories about how hosting has made a positive impact... keep reading
Turkey to Texas: A CIEE Student Arrival
HOUSTON – As Rengin Bakal stepped into the baggage claim area of George Bush Intercontinental Airport she was greeted with a“Welcome” sign and bouquet of flowers from her new American... keep reading
CIEE students:
- Represent more than 60 nationalities
- Are ages 15-18
- Have 3-plus years of English language study
- Receive medical insurance through CIEE
- Build lifelong bonds with their American siblings/host family, classmates, and community