Why stay with a local host family when studying abroad?
For students who study abroad may confront a lot of difficulties. For a few, the culture shock can be overwhelming, while others would spend a lot of energy just figuring out how to handle their financial accounts effectively in a foreign land. Another challenge faced by those studying in another country is student accommodation. That is the reason it is prudent for those who are considering to study abroad to sort this out even before leaving their home country.Luckily, there are numerous alternatives to student accommodations for international and exchange students. These options include school dormitories and student apartments. However, for one reason or another, some students prefer a setup that feels more like home. This is how staying at a local homestay nearby can be a highly essential option for housing students.
What Is A Homestay?
Homestays, similar to what this homestay agency offers, are residences where families receive and host international students in their home. Usually, the length of the contract is month to month. This arrangement is somewhat compelling than a long-term lease of an apartment or shared accommodation rentals.
International Homestay Agency offers the student lots of flexibility in this regard. However, it best to book a homestay for a few months or longer, but the student or newcomer is not locked up in a long-term lease. You can ask the agency to change home if any challenges arise. Usually, you would need to give your host a friendly and adequate notice and move to another homestay or another form of accommodation.
A good number of universities, colleges, or schools even make this accommodation option necessary for exchange students who are in the country for the first time. The reason behind this requirement is that, with homestays, getting familiarized with a new environment is quicker and learning to speak the language is faster for international students. Much of the time, these organizations take part in choosing or referring their students to accommodation providers similar to this homestay agency.
Homestays are not only limited to students, however. Any newcomers can also take part and take advantage of this type of accommodation and its low pricing. Host families tend to support students and newcomers alike. They usually guide them to settle in the neighborhood.
Benefits Of Staying In Homestay Accommodations
Aside from taking care of a student’s problem with finding student housing and helping in learning the local dialect, there are other advantages to homestays. The following will show you why you ought to explore this accommodation option while traveling to another country to study.
Learn Some Significant Cultural Practices
Living with a local family would open you to many unique experiences, such as wedding traditions, birthdays, holiday celebrations, and other simple day-to-day life. These are things you are less likely to learn when you stay in student rooms in the dormitories or private lofts.
Experiencing firsthand the traditions of the locals is one of the most natural approaches to learning more about the new society you are in and making you feel comfortable in it. Before you even notice it, you become well-acquainted with some of the customs of your host country that you can pass as one of the locals.
Have Good Guidance and Information
People who open their homes to the homestay program are often curious by nature. You would be urged to ask for whatever information from their simple way of life to their cultures and traditions in the community. And this would be something that you will find quite exciting.
On the other hand, you must also be ready to answer questions regarding your homeland too. Talking about stuff like this would surely make you feel more comfortable and welcome.
Quickly Immerse Yourself in the Local Customs
Living with a family would also provide you with a remarkable opportunity to live like local people in a specific community. If you are quite the curious type, this would be a brilliant opening to start exploring various aspects of your personality.
You would learn many things about yourself that you have never known before. For example, you would find how quickly you can adjust to another culture as you attempt to immerse yourself in it. So you should always try to be a part of the usual family weekends.
Get a New Local Family and Make Friendships
One of the best advantages of the homestay program is that you instantly gain another family. If you get along with your host and you both feel mutually comfortable, this new location will soon become your second home.
Often, students that choose a homestay will have beautiful stories about family and love that are sure to warm the heart. The relationships shaped throughout your homestay will undoubtedly develop your life as an exchange student. These are lifetime connections with bonds so firm that you are probably going to travel back to see your foreign family again long after you finish school.
Taste Homemade Dishes and Local Cuisine
If you selected to include meals as a part of your homestay experience, you get the chance to eat the food prepared by your host. Even though it might take a while to adapt to different foods and recipes, once you get used to it, you will find this a fantastic experience.
You are maybe fortunate to eat homemade food rather than make your meals or choose to dine outside — all which can be quite expensive on your budget. Nevertheless, you could spend valuable time preparing meals when you need to use your time to meet your school deadlines.
These are only some of the many benefits of the homestay experience. You will soon discover these benefits of staying in a homestay outweigh any disadvantages — all which will make you hesitate to leave your host family.
The underlying essence of homestays is all about cultural integration. Furthermore, the experiences of numerous students throughout the years demonstrate that in the majority of the time, the homestay program works well for both hosts and guests.
To become a homestay guest, apply here.