Guide for Hosts

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A Host’s Perspective “Our biggest resource is you. The CHI host network offers all of us invaluable insights into how we can get the most out of the adventure we’ve all signed up for—what this host calls “meeting the world in your own home, one person at a time.” ~ The CHI Team At the end of the day, being a good host means making your guest feel at home. This requires thoughtfulness and empathy. We always say that homestay is about treating our visitors in the way we would want our own family members to be treated. But a warm welcome is only the beginning. Your guests won’t “feel at home” just because you invite them to. Everything that “goes without saying” between Canadians has to be spoken about—indeed, good hosting means good communicating: communicating warmth, communicating interest and communicating information. Here are some thoughts about each of these ways of being in touch with your visitor. On sharing… Show an interest in their country and culture. If you communicate warm and sincere interest it will encourage them to share information about the people and things they know—their families, their local customs, their interests. You can learn all sorts of things! Share your country and culture with them. They will be interested! Ask if there is anything special they want to do or see... And then ask them again later; they may have heard or read about something neat in school. If you don’t have children at home, invite the children of friends or family over for a visit. Include your visitor in family occasions. Take them out to community events that you would normally attend. Remember that even a walk around the neighborhood or a drive around the city will fill their eyes with sights they may never have seen before and will help them understand how Canada fits together and how our communities work. On private time… Include them in your life but expect them to want some time alone. A new language environment is exhausting, even for the most motivated and resilient student. Continued… © 2011 CHI/CANADA HOMESTAY INTERNATIONAL 8
A Host’s Perspective Continued On staying connected… Develop the habit of reviewing plans (yours and theirs) daily, if necessary, and establish when everyone is expected to return home. Emphasize the importance of calling home to alert the family to any changes in the plan. And lead by example. This practice is rooted in consideration for others—but it’s also about personal safety. And before your visitor sets off on their own across town, make sure they’ve got a card with your name, address and phone number(s) on it—as well as directions home, with your subway and bus route and stop names and numbers. This will help them or anyone else who tries to help them if they lose their way. On food… If your visitor is here for a short time, they’ll probably want to try everything you’re eating and will be able to cope with it for a month or so. But some visitors have real difficulty adjusting to our diet and style of cooking, and the longer the stay, the more they’ll miss elements of their own cuisine. In every city and town there are grocery stores, or at the very least sections of large stores, that cater to every nationality. Become familiar with them and take your visitor shopping—they’ll help you identify what they like to eat. Lunches are particularly challenging for Asian students, for example, who do not have a “sandwich-based” lunch cuisine. Be creative and look for alternatives, at least part of the time. They’ll appreciate your efforts. Check occasionally to see that your visitor is getting enough to eat. If you are not going to make breakfast and lunches for them, make them together at first because your fridge and cupboards will be foreign territory to them. Show them where the snacks are kept, or leave them out, and show them how much is a serving. On making the most of it… If you enter into this opportunity with enthusiasm and interest, both you and your visitor will benefit. You will gain a new perspective on your own customs and traditions and you will have a chance to learn a little about a country you may not have visited. Hosting international visitors is like meeting the world in your own home, one person at a time. © 2011 CHI/CANADA HOMESTAY INTERNATIONAL 9
Page 1 and 2: Host Guide: Welcome to the CHI host
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Guide for Hosts

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