Reasons to stay with a host family

Posted on 07. May, 2009 by MariaAbroad in Living Abroad, Study Abroad

Advantages of staying with a host family

If you have the chance, try to stay with a local host family. I know, this does not sound very exciting at first. After all, an important reason to go study abroad is to go wild and crazy in a place where nobody knows you and you will never see these people again. But you don’t have to stay with your host family for the complete stay abroad. You can benefit from the advantages in the beginning and then go wild and crazy when you know your way around.

Living with a host family has many advantages:

- You will pick up the language much faster, as you have to communicate with the members of your host family in the local language most of the day.

- Your host family can show you around and answer the million questions you will have in the beginning. Where does the bus stop? How do I get a cell phone? What places are worth a visit? and many more…

- Your host family can give you advice on safety and keep an eye on you. They know which areas of town you shoud avoid and which behavior might get you in serious trouble. This might be a great point to convince your real family to let you go abroad in the first place.

- In many cases, you will become part of your host family, they will introduce you to other locals and you can establish many useful connections.

When you are lucky, you will always have a family away from home and friends for a lifetime.

- You will get to know local people from a completely different perspective and gain a deeper insight when you live with them. You can learn a lot about the people, their culture, believes, hobbies and cuisine, an insight that you will hardly get, when you live with other foreign students in an international dorm.

I know that living with a host family is not for everyone, but it is certainly an option worth to consider!

Let me know, if you have any questions about living with a Host Family, I have experienced the positive and negative side of it!

Tags: Study Abroad

16 Responses to “Reasons to stay with a host family”

Jinny

10. May, 2009

Greatings, Where are you from? Is it a secret?
Jinny
admin

11. May, 2009

Hey Jinny,
thank you for your comment. Nope, it is not a secret, I am from good ‘ol Germany! Let me know, if you need any advice on studying abroad, ok?
Maria
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13. May, 2009

[...] Reasons to stay with a host family [...]
Reasons to stay with a host family Maria Abroad | Outdoor Ceiling Fans

03. Jun, 2009

[...] Reasons to stay with a host family Maria Abroad Posted by root 1 day 5 hours ago (http://mariaabroad.com) Thank you for your comment nope it is not a secret i am from good 39 ol germany 2008 maria abroad all rights reserved powered by wordpress Discuss | Bury | News | Reasons to stay with a host family Maria Abroad [...]
KattyBlackyard

14. Jun, 2009

Hi, gr8 post thanks for posting. Information is useful!
GarykPatton

15. Jun, 2009

I have been looking looking around for this kind of information. Will you post some more in future? I’ll be grateful if you will.
Rich James McPharlin

13. Jul, 2009

Hi,
well written article, I think our views on
Reasons to stay with a host family differ a little however you put foward some good points

Thanks
Utah Dentist

23. Oct, 2009

My bestfriend lived with a host family during his stay in Japan as an exchange student. Too bad he didn’t learn the language since the family was very good in English. =/
10 Reasons to Study Abroad | Maria Abroad

24. Oct, 2009

[...] Reasons to stay with a host family [...]
Study abroad programs – advantages and disadvantages | Maria Abroad

30. Oct, 2009

[...] – Meeting locals; when you travel in a group of other international students, it will be very hard to get to know locals. As it is easier to connect with other people from your country or other exchange students that have a similar experience as you, it will be hard to really get to know locals, especially if you are put up with all other foreign exchange students in the “international domitory”. A better way to connect with locals is to stay with a host family. Learn more about the advantages of living with a host family here. [...]
Sigrid

14. Nov, 2009

Hello! I find your homepage very useful. I am currently living in Italy for one year(exchange year), and in the moments when I’m homesick, pages like this one really help me! Thank you
novice

11. Jan, 2011

nice post.
Lici-Li

22. Jun, 2011

heeyy,

I’m from Holland and I’m 18 years old.
I really want to stay with a host family in Seoul or near Seoul for around 6 months..
do you know anything where i could find something like that.. or websites or something with info..

thank you/danke very much,,=)

bye!!
Lici
Lici-Li

22. Jun, 2011

heeyy,

I’m from Holland and I’m 18 years old.
I really want to stay with a host family in Seoul or near Seoul for around 6 months..
do you know anything where i could find something like that.. or websites or something with info..
oh and I’m not a student so yeah..i can’t do student exange..

thank you/danke very much,,=)

bye!!
Lici
Arman

06. Mar, 2012

thanks a lot for your wonderful explanations
I have experienced it too in London
but do you have any idea about Germany , I am going to study master in Darmstadt(Germany)
please send your answer to my email
arman2064@yahoo.com
best regards
Arman
Iwona

09. May, 2012

Hi:)I am looking for host family which will be able to be my guide, talking with me, showing me a city,spend the most time with me for that week I am just 18 y.o and i have been never in Uk before(i am from Poland i want to go to UK)Could you tell me where can i find that family?Who could help me organized everythink??