If you are going to study abroad you may want to consider doing a homestay. For those who are not familiar with a homestay, it is when you stay with a local family instead of living in a dormitory or apartment. This is a great way to learn about the culture of your host country and really get to know the local lifestyle. If you are intending on learning a foreign language, doing a homestay is also one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the language.

Because every family is different, homestay experiences can vary from being very immersive to having little involvement between you and your host family. In a more immersive experience, you are treated like part of the family and are involve in family activities like birthdays, holidays festivities, family trips, etc.

It is important to have an idea of what you can expect from your host family and what they can expect from you beforehand. Still, staying with any stranger especially in a different culture can be difficult and some culture clash may happen. However, this is not impossible to overcome and many students say it is one of the most rewarding experiences they have. There are some general homestay etiquette that should be followed to ensure a great start to your experience, below is a list of some homestay do’s and don’ts:

• Do
  • Expect things to be different – Keep an open mind, after all you are in another country!
  • Dress more conservatively – Some cultures do dress more conservatively than others, or the family may have young children, they may not be so keen on seeing you dress too revealingly. This is especially important during the first meeting, because remember, first impression do matter!
  • Ask first and respect the rules of the house – International phone call can be expensive and water in some country may be a valuable resource, racking up huge bill for your family would not be appreciated.
  • Support cultural conservation – Showing interest in the host country language and culture and share your personal experience, this can be a great icebreaker and help foster a closer relationship. However, be careful to stay away from controversial topics.
  • Be clean – No one likes a dirty person, don’t make your family have to clean up after you.
  • Be respectful and polite to all the family members
  • Bring a good will gift – Different cultures have different customs on giving gift. However, it usually never hurts to bring a small gift for your host family especially if your gift is something unique from your country. Keep it small so you don’t create a feeling that they are obligated to return a gift.
  • Communicate with your host family – Remember the saying, “Communication is the key to a good relationship”? Let your host family know if you have any questions or concerns.
  • Don’t
    • Do any drugs – Sounds obvious, but the law on drugs on many countries can be extremely strict and the sentence extremely harsh. You may cause trouble not only for yourself but your host family as well.
    • Make excessive noise, shouting, watching TV, listening to music, etc. – Remember your host parents probably have to work, don’t stay up until late at night and blast away your music.
    • Expect your host family to provide everything you ask – If your parents do your laundry at home, don’t expect that your host family will do the same.

Along with these general rules, you should also do research on your particular host country cultural differences. For example, in some culture it’s okay to give someone a kiss on the cheek or a hug but other cultures reserve personal contact for only if you have a very close relationship; some Asian cultures also take off their shoes before entering the house.

Remember that the family is hosting you because they want to do so. They are probably just as interested in learning about your culture as you do about theirs. Keep an open mind and don’t forget to get the most out of your international experience!