Halloween is always a special time for Aspect students, host families, and International Coordinators. From carving pumpkins and exploring corn mazes to trick-or-treating and braving haunted hayrides, our 2025–26 students got to experience one of America’s most beloved traditions. In this recap, we celebrate the joy that hosting exchange students brings and the memories that last long after the holiday.
Aspect Exchange students from Spain, Japan, Montenegro, and Kazakhstan spent a perfect Nebraska fall afternoon celebrating classic Halloween traditions. For all of the girls, it was their very first time carving pumpkins, and their creations turned out wonderfully. At one point, a friendly neighborhood black cat even wandered over as if to inspect their work!
The group sampled an assortment of American fun-size candies and gathered around a crackling fire to roast hot dogs. A few ashes needed brushing off and one marshmallow met an untimely end in the flames, but the laughs made it all part of the experience.
Along with the hands-on fun, the students also learned about the history of Halloween in the United States and how these traditions came to be. It was a memorable afternoon filled with new experiences, cultural exchange, and plenty of autumn cheer.
– Julie, International Coordinator from Nebraska
Halloween was so much fun! We had students from eight different countries represented. Everyone trick-or-treated and then had opportunities to network. We learned about differences in customs and education, made new friends, and shared many laughs!
– Jeana, host mom from Utah
We visited a corn maze in the small town of Moapa, but it turned out to be so much more than just a maze. The kids had a great time! They loved watching the pig races, feeding the goats, shooting the corn cannon, swinging on a giant swing, making s’mores around the fire pit, and even trying deep-fried cheesecake. They also got quite a few frights on the haunted hayride, in the haunted house, and of course, in the haunted corn maze.
– Laura, host mom and International Coordinator from Nevada
The boys (Butter from Thailand and David from Kenya) enjoyed their first trick-or-treating and even got tricked by receiving a potato!
– Jodi, host mom and Team Manager from Washington State
Never imagined I’d be picking a pumpkin straight from the field! Visiting the pumpkin patch was such a fun experience, and I’m so grateful for this beautiful day I’ll always remember.
– Tahia from Bangladesh
Are you interested in making a student a part of your family? We are looking for American host families to welcome a student for Spring 2026 semester and the upcoming 2026-27 school year. Check out the profiles of our wonderful students. New student profiles go online every Thursday!
