Can you imagine your family cooking pasta together or enjoying a homemade tiramisu while sharing stories from across the ocean? Hosting an Italian exchange student brings food, culture, and friendship right into your home! Italian students are excited to explore your world while sharing their own traditions. Here are five reasons why hosting an Italian … Continue reading →

What better way to experience a country than by staying with a local family? Becky, a Community Manager and host mom from Utah, discovered that the real heart of Spain isn’t found in tourist attractions but in exploring villages side by side, laughing late into the night, and celebrating the sweet moments of everyday life. … Continue reading →

Sharmi from Utah thought her family’s hosting days were over once their own kids were grown. But when she saw students still hoping for a chance to come to the United States, she and her husband decided to help by welcoming two girls into their empty nest. What they quickly discovered was that hosting two … Continue reading →

When families decide to host an exchange student, they often think about the impact it will have on the student. But sometimes, the person whose life changes the most is already living at home. Becky, a Community Manager and host mom from Utah, shares how hosting exchange students transformed life for her daughter, Juliette. What … Continue reading →

Ever wondered what hosting looks like through a dad’s eyes? Today, host dad Derek shares what the experience has meant to his family and how life has changed since Ajia from Pakistan joined them for the 2025-26 school year in Utah, with the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program sponsored by the US Department of State. Keep … Continue reading →

Hosting an exchange student can turn a house into a home, and Nicole from Arizona knows this firsthand! Community Manager Nicole and her family welcomed Elsa from Sweden, and from day one, Elsa became part of the family. Even after returning to Sweden, Elsa comes back to visit for holidays and special occasions, keeping the … Continue reading →

Sometimes, hosting an exchange student becomes something far bigger than a single school year. Today, we hear from Sharon, a host mom and International Coordinator in Texas, as she reflects on welcoming her very first exchange student, Diego from Spain. What began as a nervous first step into hosting quickly turned into a lifelong bond, … Continue reading →

Every host family’s experience is unique, but one thing remains the same: hosting an exchange student brings unexpected joy and growth. From learning about new cultures to gaining an extra son or daughter, here’s what five Aspect families say they’ve gained. It was the best experience ever! We will have a fifth member of our … Continue reading →

Every rescued life tells a story of hope and new beginnings. Today we hear from John, the founder of Emery Cat Rescue, about Ferb, a cat who found a second chance at life. Stacey and her family were fostering Ferb and hosting Liséa from France during the 2024–25 school year, and Liséa quickly bonded with … Continue reading →

Rachel and her family were hosting Pietro from Italy for the 2024–25 school year when, just three months in, she learned she would need open brain surgery before Christmas. She and her husband gave Pietro the choice to stay or move to another host family, and he chose to stay. His optimism and kindness reminded … Continue reading →