Guide for Hosts
Guide for Hosts
Guide for Hosts
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A Host’s Perspective Continued<br />
On staying connected…<br />
Develop the habit of reviewing plans (yours and theirs) daily, if necessary, and establish when<br />
everyone is expected to return home. Emphasize the importance of calling home to alert the<br />
family to any changes in the plan. And lead by example. This practice is rooted in consideration<br />
<strong>for</strong> others—but it’s also about personal safety.<br />
And be<strong>for</strong>e your visitor sets off on their own across town, make sure they’ve got a card with<br />
your name, address and phone number(s) on it—as well as directions home, with your subway<br />
and bus route and stop names and numbers. This will help them or anyone else who tries to<br />
help them if they lose their way.<br />
On food…<br />
If your visitor is here <strong>for</strong> a short time, they’ll probably want to try everything you’re eating<br />
and will be able to cope with it <strong>for</strong> a month or so. But some visitors have real difficulty<br />
adjusting to our diet and style of cooking, and the longer the stay, the more they’ll miss<br />
elements of their own cuisine.<br />
In every city and town there are grocery stores, or at the very least sections of large<br />
stores, that cater to every nationality. Become familiar with them and take your visitor<br />
shopping—they’ll help you identify what they like to eat. Lunches are particularly challenging<br />
<strong>for</strong> Asian students, <strong>for</strong> example, who do not have a<br />
“sandwich-based” lunch cuisine. Be creative and look <strong>for</strong> alternatives, at least part of the time.<br />
They’ll appreciate your ef<strong>for</strong>ts.<br />
Check occasionally to see that your visitor is getting enough to eat. If you are not going to make<br />
breakfast and lunches <strong>for</strong> them, make them together at first because your fridge and cupboards<br />
will be <strong>for</strong>eign territory to them. Show them where the snacks are kept, or leave them out, and<br />
show them how much is a serving.<br />
On making the most of it…<br />
If you enter into this opportunity with enthusiasm and interest, both you and your visitor will<br />
benefit. You will gain a new perspective on your own customs and traditions and you will have a<br />
chance to learn a little about a country you may not have visited. Hosting international visitors<br />
is like meeting the world in your own home, one person at a time.<br />
© 2011 CHI/CANADA HOMESTAY INTERNATIONAL 9