A.C.E. Homestay Questions and Answers
Over the years we have found that false expectations are the worst enemies of a successful homestay. So to ease you through this time we have put together the following helpful hints on what to expect.
For Host Families
For Students
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Budgeting and Planning Meals
We talked to some of my families about budgeting food and stuff and these are
the suggestions we received.
Crockpots make many meals and are good if you work during the day. There is
a cook book called 5-ingrdient crockpot that has delicious but cheap meals
that can feed a lot of people.
Stir fry is also quick and you can use cheaper ingredients but still make it
nutritious and tasty.
Planning meals for the whole week, do all grocery shopping for the week in
one day so you know what you are spending and budget week by week not day by
day or month by month.
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WHEN THINGS GET DIFFICULT
Remember you are not alone. Your frustrations are being experienced by exchange students all over the world every day.
Accept that you will often feel uncertain and confused. Try to imagine your hosts trying to live in your country.
Appreciate the difficult challenge you have taken on. You are learning how to live and study in another culture.
Relax, this is a once in a lifetime adventure and you will look back and be proud of how much you have grown and learned.
Recognize the advantages you will have because you've lived in another country with people from completely different backgrounds from your own.
Realize how much you're learning and adjusting to in such a short time.
Teach your new friends and host family how people in your country think and act.
Observe how Americans do things differently. Instead of judging in it's “right” or “wrong”, try to focus on finding out WHY they do things that way.
Do what you normally do when things get stressful:
Go for a walk
Write a letter to a friend
Go to a move
Listen to music
Write in a journal
Communicate your problem with your host family. They want to help make this experience enjoyable and memorable for everyone.
Have Fun.....
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