HIGH SCHOOL in the USA
Cultural Exchange program
OPEN YOUR HEART, SHARE YOUR HOME!
Make life-long connections and embrace new cultures in your family! Positively impact the life of your family by hosting an International HSUSA student in your loving home! From married, single, empty nesters, young kids, teenage kids, or no kids - HSUSA welcomes any host able to provide a safe home, three square meals, and loving support.
Becoming a Host Family is embarking on a new adventure. The daily rhythm: getting up, going to bed, evenings, meals; the holidays: "Thanksgiving", Christmas, "Halloween", birthdays; special events: barbecue, cinema, bowling, visits ... all are different with a new family member from another culture in your home. Being an HSUSA Host Family makes your exchange student part of your family.
FEDERICO ~ ITALY IS AVAILABLE
Spring Semester Student
He likes to cook for his family and watch soccer but really enjoys tennis. Federico is passionate about scientific subjects. Since 9 years old he has been attending theatre lessons. He does have a fear of dogs but can live with other pets.
Make Federico a part of your family!
Different Culture, Different Language, One Goal: Exchange
Hosting an HSUSA exchange student offers a unique opportunity to share your story, traditions, and customs while experiencing a new culture right in your own home. If your family is open to new and enriching experiences, and willing to provide guidance, love, and support to an international young person on a journey of self-discovery, then hosting an HSUSA exchange student is perfect for you!
Host families come in all shapes and sizes. Whether you have children, are single, or an empty nester, HSUSA welcomes all kinds of families. You can live in the suburbs, the city, or rural America—what matters is your willingness to embrace new experiences and support a student eager to grow and learn.
Being an HSUSA host family brings a sense of adventure and cultural enrichment to your household, while also teaching valuable lessons about acceptance and global unity to your entire community.
Benefits and Basics of being a Host Family:
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Sharing your story, traditions, and customs while learning about others
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Experiencing what it’s like to have another sibling
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Introduction to a different culture and country
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Learning a new language
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Exposing your school and community to the world
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Appreciating your own family, country, and culture
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Lifelong connections to your student and their family abroad.
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Informal exchanges for your family to be invited to visit your students' home and country
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Offer 3 meals a day, place to study, have an extra bed, and willingness to share cultures
More than a Bed, a Second Family
Hosting an exchange student involves much more than simply providing a bed and meals. As an HSUSA Host Family, you’ll welcome a new member into your home, share your daily lives, and grow together as you exchange cultural perspectives. You’ll be amazed at how much you learn about yourself, your family, and your community through this experience.
We carefully match students with host families based on personality traits, hobbies, extracurricular interests, family dynamics, and more. This thoughtful process ensures that the student feels less like a guest and more like a true member of the family. We consider the relationship between a student and their host family to be the most important aspect of the exchange year, fostering deep connections and mutual understanding.
By embracing an exchange student, you’ll embark on a journey of cultural enrichment, personal growth, and lasting memories.
SECOND FAMILY
A Happy, Healthy Home:
A bed, a place to study, and a place they can call "home".
HEALTHY MEALS
Three a day- Host families provide the basics. It is again a way to promote your vision of the American Lifestyle.
BASIC TRANSPORT
It could be the public school bus or the host family or friends provide rides for where the student needs to go.
WELCOMING HEART
Listen, guide, love & treat them as your own. Hosting is all about sharing your version of America with an exchange student.
Follow Us
AMY EYTCHINSON
Hosted Karen, from Egypt
Host School: Ravenwood High School,
Brentwood (TN)
"Karen was a wonderful addition to our family. She got involved with lots of things like field hockey, a school play, and loved the travels we did around America. We went to the Grand Canyon, we saw the ocean and my daughter loved having a new sister. It was a great experience for all of us. We keep in touch with Karen and can’t wait to see her again, either over there in Egypt or when she comes back to the United States."
WHAT'S NEXT? HOW DOES IT WORK?
STEP 1: CONTACT US
Using our online contact form above. The HSUSA team is available will be contacting you in an attempt to answer all your questions about hosting an International Student.
STEP 2: APPLY
With the assistance of our team of experts, you will fill in more complete information about you, your family and your project of hosting an International Student.
STEP 3: BACKGROUND CHECK
HSUSA puts top priority on safety for the students in our program. All of our host families go through a screening process to ensure the student's safety that includes a criminal background check, a home visit & three character reference calls
STEP 4: APPROVAL
Upon the approval of your application, you will start working with our Local Coordinator. We will cover everything you need to know before opening your home to an International Exchange Student.
STEP 5: SELECT A STUDENT
The first step is to choose a profile amongst all the students who applied to our program and looking for a host family. Visit the 'MEET OUR STUDENTS' section and see exchange students coming to your community from around the world.
STEP 6: OPEN YOUR HOME
The final step is to prepare your family and home to the arrival of the Student. We encourage both families (student & host) to connect prior to arrival & start creating a bond.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Hosting an international exchange student can be a highly rewarding opportunity for your family. The chance to discover a different perspective than your own and to share your own culture with an international student is a daily lesson in cultural understanding. The bonds created span continents—and can last for many years to come.