How To be
A Successful Homestay Hosts - How do I get started?
Be well informed before you open your doors to guests.
"Research shows that the vast majority of Students and traveling visitors find their Homestay homes on-line." So by advertising your room for rent is the best way for International Students and traveling visitors to find you! Make sure to evaluate your lifestyle first. Answer the 10-question quiz on on page 15 in the Homestay 101 for Hosts guide book available through Amazon.com .
Contact your local international schools and other organizations and have them send you their application forms. Fill out all material and contact information, with a follow-up on your application with the coordinator in charge. It is always a good idea to keep in contact with the organization that you are dealing with and establish a professional relationship.
Is Homestay only for students? No. Homestay Guests can range from working professionals, students, and visiting travelers to whole families.
You Earn as they Learn
What is the difference between Homestay and Bed & Breakfast?Most Bed & Breakfast establishments offer a one or two night stay for their Guest. So a personal relationship is never really developed between the Host and Guest. A full breakfast is served in the morning and that is, in most cases, the only meal included in their stay. Homestay Guests are here for a greater length of time and, in most cases, develop a relationship with the homeowner. Depending on what type of Homestay style you choose, many of your Guests will spend morning and evening dinners with you and your family.
Do I need to be home in the evenings? This question is answered based on what style of Homestay you are running and the age of your Guest/student. If the agreement includes dinner, then dinner should be provided. If you have a young Guest, they should accompany you and not be left home alone in the evenings.
For more details and Q/A get a copy of Homestay 101 for Hosts.
Is it necessary that I be home for their arrival and departure? Yes! Hosting is just that! You are the Host and need to be present when a new Guest arrives as well as when they depart. Welcoming and proper orientation to your home and everyone living there is required.
When and how do I get paid? A Homestay fee usually starts and is paid on the day that they arrive. This fee is paid on that same date every month. Your Guest will pay you directly. Please note! Do not send any money or banking information to a guest if you are asked-this in most cases is a fraud email!
Should I allow my Guest to use my telephone? Most Guests will purchase a cell phone if they are planning to stay for any considerable amount of time. Show them where they can go to get them started. If they do not have a cell-phone, you may wish to get a separate phone line installed for your guests. (Optional) This frees up your personal line. It also frees you from taking messages for them all the time. The internet is a life line for communication to family and friends back home.
I seem to be having difficulties with conversing and understanding my guest. Most Homestay students will have studied their host country language before arrival. However, books do not prepare them for daily language conversation. As a Homestay Host you may need to, on occasion, seek out help from someone fluent in your Guest’s language. Look for support from the school or organization or other Homestay Hosts. Most International Students can read English, So writing out your question to them works best in many cases.
Food, why won't my Guest eat all the foods I cook? This is the most popular question by far! Food can be an issue. We all have an attachment to Mom’s cooking. Almost everything you serve is going to be new to them. Some Guests do not want to try new and different foods or just want to eat only their own foods. They are here to live our culture and mealtime is part of that experience. So it may take some time for them to start to enjoy your great cooking.
You may find that some guests will eat very little in the beginning for fear of gaining weight. Try having a culture night every once in a while and prepare foods that they’re accustomed to. This will give them a dinner to look forward to and you can expand your cooking capabilities as well! Find out what is a main staple in their home land and have it on hand-these can be comfort foods for many International Guests. Try to serve these staples often, the small cost and time and effort is the difference between a good host and a great host! (e.g. rice, Kim-Chi, limes, etc.).
Is my Guest responsible to clean their room? Yes! Some Guests may not be used to tidying their room or making their beds. Explain to them how this is done. Some Hosts prefer to clean their guestrooms. Have a regular time for cleaning and inform your Guest in advance before entering their room.
Should I have locks on the Guest rooms? Yes! Unless you are hosting a very young student, I highly recommend that the Guest have the option of locking his/her door. This gives them the sense of privacy and independence. They trust their Host, but they may feel more comfortable with this option. It also discourages young children from entering the room or any unexpected visits from pets. “I always let my Guest know well in advance if I need to enter their room for vacuuming or what have you.”
Be Open-minded Having an overseas Guest definitely means being open-minded! Both YOU and your Guest are being exposed to new ideas and new information, so you need to be patient and take the time needed to explain why things are done a certain way. Don’t lose perspective of who they are and where they are from. Some Host families try to mold their Guest into their world. If you are expecting your Guest to always think and act the same way you do, it may be a sign that hosting may not be for you.
Where can I get more information and help?
Right here! http://www.HomestayCentral.com/ works hard to bring you great stories and much needed advice.
Homestay Coordinators – at International schools and Homestay agencies – are there for your support! They are selected for their people skills, organization and educational backgrounds. They are genuinely dedicated to the well being of the guest and host. They will answer questions, direct you to references, and help with solving problems.
HomestayCentral is a great web-site discussion board where you can find the answers to many of your questions we are here to help. We are the most informative Homestay site on the web. If you would like to find out more on How-To Host International Guests in your home, we highly recommend you get your copy of Homestay 101 for Hosts today, avaliable on Amazon.com
Talk Soon!
Cheryl
HomestaySpecialist
We are looking for writers, Hosts/Students who would like to contribute to our Homestay e-magazine to share your knowledge and insight with our growing number of readers. So if you are a happy helpful person who likes to talk and write it down, this may be of interest to you. Get published !
Contact:
I would love to hear from you
cherylv@telus.net
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