Information About Homestays & Lodging

Participants stay in local homestays, which are included in the cost.

Returning students often report that the homestay experience was one of the best aspects of studying abroad.  As you can imagine, each home is different and offers unique physical and sociological attributes.  If you have specific concerns, advise us at the time of registration so we can attempt to match your interests with those of available homestays.  All homestays are carefully screened and offer the basics: lodging, meals, and an insight into the culture.

By living with local residents, you more fully immerse yourself in your host country’s culture.  Some benefits of homestays include:

• Practice the foreign language with native speakers during meals
• Interact with local people in local neighborhoods, away from tourist spots
• Gain insights into local cultural values, priorities and perspectives
• Better understanding the country's overall cultural and social framework by experiencing it at the fundamental level: the home, neighborhood, and community.

All host families are middle-class by local definition.  You have your own bedroom in the homestay and both breakfast and dinner are provided.  Some are single parent families, others are traditional families, still others are multi-generational.  Usually, the bathroom is shared - with private bathroom available in many study locations at additional cost.  Students are free to come and go as they please, but need to respect the routine of the family with whom they stay.

There is no better way to immerse yourself in a new culture than to live with the local people - particularly if you adopt to their way of doing things (rather than expect them to adopt to your priorities).