ICES Newsletter
Posts & Articles 2016
Read the ICES Newsletter posts and articles 2016 to learn about previous activities and what ICES students and host families say about their exchange experiences!
“I am so grateful for this opportunity …”
“I am so grateful for this opportunity …” On our yearly incentive trip with ICES in Belgium, I was very lucky to meet up with two of my very first students when I was a Local Coordinator ...
One thing that made my semester really special is my host family
One thing that made my semester really special is my host family My name is Lea and I am from Germany from a city called Leverkusen. I am spending one semester abroad in America. I am ...
Brazilian Vitoria Hahn loves discovering new things
Brazilian Vitoria Hahn loves discovering new things The Eclipse, Kearlsley, Michigan, November 30, 2016 by Haylie Brooks / Reporter ICES exchange student Vitoria Hahn expresses a love for ...
Little did I know how exciting and rewarding my life would become
Little did I know how exciting and rewarding my life would become ‘What a difference a year makes’ is perhaps a trite and over-used expression in America but oh so true in my ...
The most exciting time of my life
The most exciting time of my life Hey, my name is Lea, I am from Germany and I am spending an exchange semester in Georgia, close to Atlanta. I live here with my host parents, my two host ...
Hi my name is Abbey
Hi my name is Abbey I’m an Australian student that participated in the American exchange program. I recently embarked on a journey of a life time to America. I was very excited and also ...
From the view of a Local Coordinator
From the view of a Local Coordinator I would first like to say I am not biased at ALL, however, I work with some of the most wonderful, caring and loving people in Teresa Kelly and Kim ...
“It will help change my life for ever”
“It will help change my life for ever” “My name is Ermiyas, but everyone calls me “Eli”. I am 18 years, l and come from Ethiopia. I have two brothers and my Mom back home. I am ...
“One of the most rewarding things that our family has done”
“one of the most rewarding things that our family has done” When our family hosted our first student 13 years ago we had no idea of what kind of impact it would have on our lives. Over the ...
“It has been one of my best experiences in my life”
“It has been one of my best experiences in my life” Hello, My name is Samuel and I am an exchange student with ICES in West Virginia. I have been in America for two months and it has been ...
We could not be happier about deciding to have a foreign exchange student
We could not be happier about deciding to have a foreign exchange student We were nervous about how well our two young boys would adapt to a new roommate, but they absolutely love it! My ...
In the cool waters of Oregon
ICES exchange student Tommaso from Italy has made himself a name in the cool waters of Oregon Local masters swimmers introduced Marshfield exchange student Tommaso Gabi of Italy to ...
My Experience
My Experience I have been here for more than a month and a half and I can’t believe that one sixth of my experience has already gone. In these forty-seven days I have done such ...
One year in the United States…
One year in the United States is so much more than just learning about the American culture, experience the school spirit, and learning the language. You’d think you come for one ...
Hosting an exchange student has been an amazing experience…
Hosting an exchange student has been an amazing experience… … for my family, but it can be challenging at times. You think everyone teaches their children the same way you ...
“This was the key to my happiness”
I am an exchange student. I didn’t believe the power of being in an exchange program until now. Everyone was telling me how amazing it is and how the exchange experiences have change ...
My Exchange Year
When I first arrived here in America and people would ask me “…so do you like America the most or Denmark?” I knew that I definitely liked my home country Denmark the most. Whenever ...
Congrats Math Geniuses!
Congrats Math Geniuses! 3 students from Richwood High School in Nicholas County were invited to attend the WV State Math Field Day competition at Fairmont State University April 30, 2016. ...
Here we are, 9 months down, 1 to go!
Here we are, 9 months down, 1 to go! It tends to make me a little sad but actually I can’t count all the blessings God brought to me since I came to Texas. I can still remember my ...
Colorado students get the big roles …
Colorado students get the big roles… In a small school you never know when you will be selected to be one of the big rolls in the spring play. Giovana from Brazil is playing a snobby ...
ICES foreign exchange student joins Russellville Lady Cyclones basketball team, Arkansas
ICES foreign exchange student joins Russellville Lady Cyclones basketball team, Arkansas Ester is a senior from Valladolid, Spain. “The first friends I made here were on the basketball ...
My first Mother’s Day
“On this day a year ago I was the only “adult” woman sitting in church watching all the other mothers line up to be recognized. It hurt my feelings because I didn’t know ...
Being A Host Family
Being a host family. It is now the middle of May and in just a couple of weeks Alberto will leave to go home to Spain. We have had a wonderful year with him in our home and he has truly ...
This Portland and Seattle trip was amazing
To begin with … this Portland and Seattle trip was amazing thanks to all the coordinators who organized the trip for the exchange student and chaperons who instructed us all. Before ...
“I will miss my wonderful host family”
My name is Eliska, but I like people to call me Eli. I am from the Czech Republic, a tiny country in the heart of Europe. I came to the United States, to Texas in August. The first ...
“how proud their parents would be”
Two ICES exchange students are small community “movie stars” in Minnesota. Arman from Berlin and Yip (Antony) from Hong Kong are a double placement at the home of Joni and Lyle ...
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a new host family?
Here is a great story from one of our new host mothers this year in Arkansas – and how this has changed her life. “Late last summer a friend of mine told me she was hosting a foreign ...
…and this is what Victoria is writing about her time in Arkansas
The experience of the exchange program is different for each person. For me, this experience from the beginning to the end was about love. Staying at the house of people you have never ...
To Host… or Not to Host
Host what? Foreign Exchange Students! Why? We would like to share this nice article written by one of our ICES host mothers in Iowa. Linda Deutmeyer was host mom of senior student Victoria ...
Thanks Letter
Thanks letter from Yuzhi (Jack) Time pasts like a shuttle crossing, days past like sand dropping from our hand. As those big events come and go; time is coming, for my flight back home. ...
My dream came true!
My dream came true! “I planned to be an exchange student ever since I was a little girl. This exchange semester has been the most incredible experience ever. I am so grateful for my ...
Thank You … for opening your heart and home
Thank You … for opening your heart and home Last night I was finally able to spend some time with Emma’s parents and her host family. Lisa and Tomas flew all the way from Sweden to ...
The power of One
By Misty Howse, Gui’s host mother and ICES Local Coordinator in Alabama I yelled from the sidelines, so excited, as Guilherme (Gui) scored the first two goals of the game for ...
EXCHANGE STUDENTS TAKE PART IN FESTIVAL
Every April for the past 60 plus years, Wilmington, NC has hosted the North Carolina Azalea Festival. Wilmington just happens to be the azalea capitol of North Carolina. This is a ...
My American experience…
Hey, my name is Rebeka and I am an exchange student, living in Brandon, Mississippi. I am from a small town in Slovakia, where my whole family lives and where I have the best friends I ...
“Where in the world is Guillem?“
I remember the beginning of this experience as a normal day of school in my town of Sant Cugat, Barcelona. I arrived home, to find my parents sitting in front the computer, this is not ...
Chaos? What Chaos?
The Weiler family experience hosting a foreign exchange student Four kids, two in high school and two in grade school; a farm with around 75 animals, not counting the dog and two cats; all ...
When I was 12 I decided I wanted to travel the world, meeting people, knowing about a different culture, learning new languages…
My name is Luisa and I’m a foreign exchange student from Brazil. I live in Ontario, Wisconsin with the Finley family and go to Brookwood High School. When I was 12 I decided I wanted ...
PAULA: I know that it is a little bit late, but here is my report
PAULA: I know that it is a little bit late, but here is my report: On Thanksgiving day we went to Los Angeles, California to spend Thanksgiving dinner with Jackie’s family. I took a lot of ...
As the single mom of two young kids, our family accidentally fell into hosting a high school exchange student…
As the single mom of two young kids, our family accidentally fell into hosting a high school exchange student … … and it’s been the most wonderful blessing. I’d worked ...
ANNA SMITTEN BY EXTENDED SIUSLAW FAMILY PARTS OF ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN EXPLODING WHALE SPORTS, OREGON
ANNA SMITTEN BY EXTENDED SIUSLAW FAMILY PARTS OF ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN EXPLODING WHALE SPORTS, OREGON Belgium exchange student Anna speaks four languages. Five, if you count superlative as ...
SEMESTER EXCHANGE STUDENT MARI ON SAYING GOODBYE:
SEMESTER EXCHANGE STUDENT MARI ON SAYING GOODBYE: I came to the US to improve my English, but I ended up finding my lost family and some of my real good friends. I was so lucky for being ...
To Host or Not to Host – Still time to Share your Life
To Host or Not to Host – Still time to Share your Life Article on LinkedIn, May 3, 2016 by Linda Deutmeyer Host what? Foreign Exchange Students. Why? The first reason to host a ...
Cuban of the Month: Margaret Murray
Cuban of the Month: Margaret Murray SW News 4U, Wisconsin, February 25, 2016 by Dena Harris CUBA CITY — Continuously surrounding herself with young people is Margaret Murray’s key to ...
Foreign exchange students enrich lives
Foreign exchange students enrich lives Wilmington Star News, North Carolina, January 30, 2016 by George Barley / Your Voice correspondent International Cultural Exchange Services students ...