Has anyone ever lived with a homestay family while studying abroad?

Question

Can anyone give me some ideas of what it is like? Can you come and go as you please? Can you have people stay over?

Answer 1

OUR MOST FUN AND GREAT EXPERIENCE WHILE LIVING WITH A HOST FAMILY AT THE AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL AND SAFE BEACH RESORT TOWN OF SANTANDER IN SPAIN AND PARTICIPATING IN A CULTURE AND LANGUAGE EXCHANGE SUMMER PROGRAM
My sister and I participated in the most amazing program in the most beautiful and safe beach resort in Spain called Santander. The program was so well organized and planned out so smoothly that we loved it there. Castilian is spoken and also we were so busy all the time with so many fun activities, so enriching we learned lots! We would attend classes in the morning mostly conversational and in the afternoons we had activities such as a bullfight, dance classes, a dinner out at the fishermen´s quarter, boat excursion... and then once a week there was a full day excursion to beautiful places of great interest such as the Guggenheim Museum, a hike along a Roman Route, middle age village, fishermen´s quarter, etc... all while living with a wonderful and caring host family. The greatest thing about this program is that they offer the possibility, only if your choice at no extra cost of coming with a friend to stay with, at same host family home, although if you want to live on your own that is possible, too. Also, they can guarantee for you to stay in a host family who has kids similar in age as you. It´s a fantastic program and I cannot stress enough the wonderful staff, the great classes, and the nice people. We also had time to go to the beach each day! As it is a beach resort, just right there. It´s fantastic that not many people know about this still undiscovered spot in Spain! Have fun and good luck. And the program is www.beautifulspain.com

Answer 2

Living with a homestay family is like living with your own family or that of one of your friends. Each family has its own house rules and expectations. Some will let you come and go at will, others will ask you to please let them know, or will be disappointed if you don't make it home for dinner. As for having friends stay over, some can accommodate that and others cannot. Just like being at home, the key is to ask if it is okay to do .... If you just assume things will be acceptable, they will probably get upset. How would your parents like it if they came home and found strange people staying over in their house without warning? Realize that you are a guest in these people's home. It can be a wonderful experience, but you need to behave responsibly and respect their house rules.

Answer 3

I rented a room from a family during my 4 1/2 months in England. I had a key and could come and go as I wanted but I did let them know a general idea so they wouldn't worry. I was able to bring people over but if they were going to stay over I let them know so they wouldn't be surprised by another face in the morning seeing as how they had kids and didn't want them frightened.
It was great experience studying abroad. Just know that if you stay for over 3 months you can't ever give blood in the US again because they can't test for mad cow disease and you might be a carrier even without symptoms of any kind. It might be in your blood.

Answer 4

I lived with a family when I was in Costa Rica a few summers ago. I was allowed to come and go as I pleased, but I could not have people stay over.

Answer 5

I have stayed with three different host families. You can come and go as you please, you just have to let them know if you'll miss dinner or some other meal they usually prepare for you. If not, its pretty rude to not tell them. They're usually ok if you ask if a friend can come over but not all the time.

Answer 6

I have.
It was an awesome experience!