I would tell you what I felt during my Lions Exchange in South Dakota, in the middle of the States. 

After a long trip (I missed a flight too), I arrived in Sioux Falls where I met my host family.
They were so polite and helpful with me, but at the end of my trip I can say all the American people are very friendly unless you're not American: I think meeting people with a different points of view and habits is one of the best reason I chose to take part at this exchange.

I spent two weeks there and a week in a camp in North Dakota: I enjoyed the camp experience because I met a lot of people from all around the world and now I've friends in Turkey, Russia, Finland, Canada... And who knows, maybe I'd meet them again somewhere!

I had the opportunity to visit the Black Hills in SD, where there are Mont Rushmore and Crazy Horse, it's a very beautiful place!

It was worth it, I enjoyed this trip as no one else.