Student Testimonials and Stories
Student Testimonials and Stories
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A Homestay Story (Written by Colin Knight A.C.E. SPU Program Coordinator)
In my second year at university, I had to study abroad as part of my major
in French Language Studies. At 19 years old, I traveled alone to Grenoble,
France and lived there with a host family for almost four months. Although I
had studied French in high school for three years, and a year in college, my
French was terrible! To make matters worse, my host family didn't speak any
English! Needless to say, when I first met them, I was really nervous.
Despite my worries though, Jean Luc and Chierry (my host parents) were both
really nice! They picked me up from the train station on my first day in
Grenoble, and showed me their little three bedroom apartment and my room. I
ate dinner with them that night, and met their 20 year-old daughter and her
boyfriend. They showed me how to use their shower and bath (which were very
different from the ones here in the U.S.) and also their washer and dryer;
lastly they explained the house rules--all of this in French! That first day
was really difficult, but thanks to their kindness and patience I became
really comfortable speaking with them, even in a foreign language. This
became the norm: during the day, I studied with other international students
at school, at night I practiced what I'd learned that day with Jean Luc,
Chierry and their daughter.
By the time I left France and returned to Seattle, I was nearly fluent in
French; without my host family I wouldn't have become nearly as strong a
speaker as I am today.
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Homestay Advice (Written by a former IELI student)
Although a home stay is helpful and convenient, one has to know some situations of home stay in order to enjoy your American life.
First, host parents are not your real parents. Therefore, it is wrong to think that they will do everything for you. Even though they must be kind and give you advice about many things, you should try to do things for yourself as much as possible.
Second, some host parents are always working. You sometimes can't eat dinner because your host parents are at work, or they are going out for the evening. Therefore, you need to know that you will sometimes have to cook for yourself. If you have never cooked, you should tell them and get advice about cooking dinner.
Third, since many host families are Christian, they sometimes ask you to go to a church. Because American society is really influenced by Christianity, it is interesting to go to a church. However, you don't have to always go there.
Fourth, the most important thing you have to know is that each host family has different rules. You have to understand and follow those rules. You also have to be willing to compromise. If you can't do these things you should consider moving.
Home stay is not always enjoyable, but it is valuable. You will experience real U.S. way of life and thinking. In order to avoid any troubles and have a good time, these things are important to know when you live with an American family.
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 Having the experience of living overseas for five years (two years in Guam and three years in Russia), I have known the value of connecting personally with local families. Making meals together, traveling to special tourist sites, celebrating national holidays, and language training through informal conversation brought me out of the shadows of isolation that often comes with living in an unknown land. My life has been deeply enriched by spending time with local families who have become my life-long friends. I have learned so much about these countries and in turn have had the opportunity to dispel some myths about life in the United States. Written by Sally Thomas A.C.E. SPU Director
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As I look back on my time studying abroad, the home stay experience was one of the most influential pieces of the trip. It greatly shaped my perspective and knowledge of the culture. It was a key component in practicing the language and feeling comfortable, allowing my mind up to the new experiences that awaited me. - Sarah D. Fischer
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