Hosting a foreign student in your home is a rewarding experience that many would highly recommend. In the old days a family with a spare room could post an ad in the newspaper and easily find a student to rent to. But today’s modern students seldom travel independently. Opening your home to a foreign student on a USA vacation will require you to contact an agency that specializes in such arrangements.
A good place to start is by contacting your local university or college. Ask about foreign students and if they have any programs in place to assist these students in finding living arrangements. More often than not they do, but in cases where they don’t, the colleges will probably be able to get you in touch with the right agency. Be patient in the early stages of this process as it is sometimes difficult to get the ball rolling.
Once you have contacted the right people, you’ll probably have to fill out applications and paperwork. Some agencies will ask to interview you personally and see your house to see if you are fit for exchange hosting, others may not. You might be able to set your own price for rent, but more than likely the agency will establish what it is willing to pay and that rate will not be negotiable. The rate will be fair, but hopefully your desire to do this will be more for the experience than the money. You can offer meals with your room, but be aware that often these students get a school meal plan as part of their tuition.
When you finally receive your approval to host a student, you’ll most likely get an introductory letter and photo. Avoid the temptation to start making grandiose plans for the school year. These students are coming to the States to get an education so that’s their first priority. They’ll also make friends while they are here, going out with them on weekends to do what college kids do. That’s not to say that you’ll never see them, but many hosts are disappointed because they had expectations that were unrealistic.
One of the things that foreign students have appreciated about staying with us is the fact that we didn’t alter our normal routine or lifestyle. We continued to live like we always lived, and the students got to experience that. They helped with chores, they ate meals with us when they were home, they joined us for church and family outings. They were all very much a part of our family even though they had friends and school to keep them busy.
For our part, we benefited from learning about life in France and Spain. We learned about culture, traditions, holiday practices, and what normal life is for a European young adult. We also had the privilege to help them with their English and learn some of their language. When the school year ended and it was time to say goodbye, we were no longer strangers meeting at the airport, we were good friends.
It’s a wonderful experience to say the least, one that’s well worth the effort.
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