Tips for getting along well with your host family 3268
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1. Many cities in the United States have good public transportation systems, but it does take a while to get around。Use your bus time to improve your English listening skills (also known as eavesdropping), or relax and daydream on the bus？Remember why you chose to live with a host family: Improve your English skills and learn how to get along with people from different cultures。
2.When you live in another country, eating can be a big challenge。Be sure to tell your host parents what you like to eat and try new foods as well。Many students are surprised to find that they actually enjoy the cooking of their host family。However, the host parents will still try to provide rice and other food for the students, because they think their host students will like it。Americans often eat leftovers from the night before。We love leftovers。
3.Asking questions often will show that you are interested in your host family。The best time to chat with a host parent is not only during dinner, but also while preparing dinner and clearing the table。Your host parents will welcome you to join them at these times。Personal questions about their job, family, hobbies, favorite movies, things, or travel experiences are a great way to start a conversation。They will also ask you questions about your life in your home country, your family, or some of your activities at school。Americans do not often talk about religion or politics unless they know each other well。Except, of course, when it comes to teaching their own culture。
4. A homestay is not a hotel!One of the most common complaints we receive from host parents is that students do not participate in any family activities。While it is not expected that you will be able to attend church every Sunday, attend every child's soccer game or swim meet, you will need to pay attention to your host family and their activities。Helping your host family prepare dinner, clearing the table, asking which weekend cleaning can help, or spending a birthday or holiday with your host family will be part of your host family experience。
You are definitely welcome to travel with friends, but please let your host parents know if you will be out late or if your friends will be happy to visit you at home。Nor is it appropriate to use a host family as a mere stepping stone to an apartment。It is best to stay with a host family for at least one semester (3 months) before you move to an apartment。
5. The best way to answer personal calls and/or solve Internet problems is to request your own phone line in your room, or buy a cell phone。We also understand that jet lag can make it difficult to talk to family during the day。However, please do not allow your calls to disturb your host family after 10pm or before 7am (unless it is an emergency).。If the host parents have insomnia, they will become very grumpy。
6. No smoking means absolutely no smoking。If you answer on your homestay application form that you are a non-smoker, then your homestay parents do not want to see you smoking in or near the house。Americans have no tolerance for smoking。In most homestay families, you will not be allowed to smoke in the house。If you break the no-smoking rules, you will almost certainly be told to leave your host family。
7.In America, it's absolutely okay to ask questions about things you don't understand。If you come from a culture where asking questions is considered awkward and rude, remember that in your host family as well as at school, asking questions is welcome。Many homestay problems occur due to language misunderstandings。If your host parent says something you don't understand, be sure to ask them to repeat it or write it down。Better clear up the misunderstanding right away。Better to let the problem escalate。
8. No one thinks they're experiencing culture shock, but everyone does。It always hits us when we don't want to go through it, one or two months after you arrive。At the beginning of our overseas experience, we often feel very interested and energized by our new environment。Later, we become exhausted from the stress of learning new ways of doing things (taking the bus, using the bathroom, interacting with teachers, etc.)。This is exactly when we start to get upset about host family life and study or work life。Remember that this is a normal part of learning to live in a new culture。If you persist, everything will be all right。Ask for help to cope with everyday frustrations。
9.If and when you decide to leave your host family, be sure to give your host parents at least 2 weeks' notice。This means that you must tell your host parents 2 weeks in advance before you move out。In many apartments, you have to give one month's notice, so we don't think this is an unreasonable request。
