Some people think that hosting a high school exchange student requires an exciting life filled with constant entertainment, elaborate vacations, and a picture-perfect lifestyle. The truth is that exchange students come to the U.S. to experience everyday American life; for them, even the most ordinary moments feel special. What they’re really looking for is a welcoming home and a U.S. host family who can share everyday moments with them.
Below, we’ve included some of the nominations from the AYA Host Families of the Year to show you why “ordinary” U.S. families are often the ideal environment for hosting an exchange student.
Discover how everyday moments can turn your ordinary family life into an extraordinary experience!
The Magic of Dinner Time
Dinner time naturally creates opportunities for cultural exchange. As exchange students try new foods or enjoy a family favorite, it creates the perfect opportunity for relaxed conversations, personal stories, and sharing perspectives. For Hanan from Thailand, some of her favorite memories happened around the Resendez family’s dinner table:
“[Family dinner] really meant a lot to me because everyone talks about their day, and that’s the beauty of dinner time.”
For many students, these daily conversations become a window into American family life and help them truly feel at home during their exchange year.
Everyday Activities Become Extraordinary Memories
To a host family, a walk with the dog or a trip to the grocery store may feel routine. But to an exchange student, it’s a chance to experience American life firsthand.
Tetiana from Ukraine reflected on how her host family transformed everyday life into something special:
“They try to make every day special by preparing new meals for dinner and taking me to an activity they wanted us to do together. There’s so much we do together: go to museums, go on walks with dogs, volunteer, have family game and movie nights. We cook together and sing in the car, go shopping and try new foods.”
Isabel from Brazil remembered those shared activities the same way—less as a checklist of events and more as proof that she was part of the Evangelesta family’s life:
“We went camping, we had movie nights, we went trick-or-treating, we did so many fun things. They were the best host family I could have ever asked for. I love them so much and I miss them every day!”
Feeling Like Part of the Family
Exchange students often stress how feeling included is more important than being entertained. Knowing they belong in your household and are treated as a member of your family is far more valuable than exciting outings or fancy vacations.
Lilly from Germany explained that feeling included in every family moment really made her experience special:
“What meant the most to me were the small things: their constant support when I started a new sport, the way they included me in every family moment, and how even their extended family welcomed me with love—they sent me Christmas gifts as if I had always belonged.”
You Don’t Have to Change Your Life to Host
One of the biggest misconceptions about hosting is that you need to plan a full year of exciting activities. In reality, exchange students often appreciate seeing American life exactly as it is, so big changes and grand gestures aren’t necessary.
Amy from Italy was grateful that the Axsoms invited her to join the family activities they’d been enjoying for years:
“They always include me in fun activities like going to the beach, attending concerts, watching football games, and enjoying traditional Southern cuisine together.”
What made Amy’s experience meaningful was that she got to experience her host family’s real life—not some artificial version of it they created just for her. Remember, hosting is about authentic cultural exchange, not pretending your family is something it’s not. What host families do every day is usually what sticks with students the most.
The Little Moments Students Never Forget
What may seem ordinary to your eyes may be what your exchange student remembers for the rest of their life. You can never know how much a shared activity or act of kindness will impact an exchange student. And sometimes, unplanned time to rest or have a relaxed conversation is just what the student needs.
Greta from Germany shared a list of the moments she’ll miss after her exchange year with the Starr family in Ohio:
“Cuddling with the dog on the couch, working out with my host dad in his home gym, having dinner together, watching the entire season of Gilmore Girls with my host mom and driving in the convertible after practice singing to loud music with my host dad—those are the things I will miss.”
In addition to these little moments, she stressed how her host family was always there for her personal achievements and sports events, too:
“They were at all my basketball games and track meets, cheering me on. Which means more to me than they will ever understand. My host dad captured all those moments in photos and proudly shared them on his Facebook.”
Johanna from Austria echoed that same idea, explaining that even after the bigger activities, the smallest shared moments mattered most:
“Of course we did all these amazing things, but what truly made this experience the best time of my life were the small moments. I remember laughing about the silliest things with them and ending up on the floor because we couldn’t stop laughing. I absolutely loved it!”
Are you ready to make an extraordinary difference in an exchange student’s life? Learn more about hosting with AYA!
What makes a host family extraordinary? It’s the simple act of sharing their lives with their exchange student and being true to their family—not their idea of what the perfect American family should look like. Everyday life with an exchange student often means including them in family dinners, attending local events together, running errands with them, watching movies, celebrating holidays, and supporting them as they explore hobbies, sports, and community. As exchange students stress again and again: it’s the little moments that matter most.
As Hanan put it:
“[The] ordinary things that we did together make it more extraordinary. And this is the charm of an ordinary family that made my exchange year a truly special one.”
You don’t need an extraordinary life to be a great host family. All you need to do is open your home, share your daily routines, and make your exchange student feel like they belong. That’s what will stick with students, and it’s what makes their exchange year so special.
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