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Living with a Host Family Abroad: Pros, Cons and Etiquette

Started by SarahStudiesAbroad · 20 novembre 2025 · 9 replies · 📖 Read as Guide
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SarahStudiesAbroad
Lived with two host families in Seville and Kyoto
Joined: Oct 2019 Posts: 107
20 novembre 2025 #1
I lived with host families in both Spain and Japan and the experiences could not have been more different. One was incredible, the other was genuinely difficult. Sharing everything I learned about making it work -- including what to do when it does not.

Pour aller plus loin, découvrez destinations dog-friendly en France.

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CamilleDuval
French student who hosted and was hosted
Joined: Jan 2019Posts: 128
November 24, 2025#2
The etiquette section for France is spot on. My American exchange student roommate put bread on her plate at every meal and my host mother noticed every single time. These small things genuinely matter.
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WanderlustEmma
Homestay in Costa Rica for a summer program
Joined: Feb 2020Posts: 157
November 28, 2025#3
My host family in San Jose was incredible and it was entirely because I committed to eating every meal with them. By week three we were having genuine conversations about politics and family and I forgot I was speaking Spanish.
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BackpackerJake
Had a difficult homestay placement in Tokyo
Joined: Jul 2019Posts: 22
December 03, 2025#4
The mismatch section is important. My host family in Tokyo barely interacted with me beyond serving dinner. I switched after three weeks and the second family was completely different. Do not suffer in silence if the placement is wrong.
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MikeFromMichigan
Homestay in Barcelona during a summer program
Joined: Oct 2022Posts: 33
December 08, 2025#5
Eating dinner at 10 PM was the biggest cultural shock of my life. My host mother would look at me like I was insane when I mentioned being hungry at 6. Took two weeks to adjust my body clock but honestly I prefer it now.
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AidanDublin
Irish student, homestay in rural France
Joined: Oct 2022Posts: 201
December 13, 2025#6
Brought a box of Barry's tea and some Irish butter cookies as a gift. My host family talked about that tea for the entire semester. Small gesture, massive impact on the relationship.
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JessicaBoston
Study abroad returnee, lived with families in two countries
Joined: Feb 2020Posts: 73
December 18, 2025#7
The Level 1-2-3 framework for when things go wrong is exactly right. I went through Level 2 in my first placement and talking to my coordinator changed everything. They arranged a conversation with my host mother and it resolved within a week.
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NatalieVancouver
Canadian student, homestay in Osaka
Joined: Apr 2022Posts: 111
December 23, 2025#8
In Japan the host gift is essentially mandatory. I brought Canadian maple syrup and a small Inuit art piece. My host mother displayed the art piece in the living room for the entire semester. Culture-specific gifts show you thought about it.
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RyanToronto
Lived with a host family in Bogota
Joined: May 2023Posts: 160
December 28, 2025#9
The language fluency point is measurable. I took the DELE exam before and after my homestay semester. Went from B1 to solid B2 in four months. My friends in the international student apartment barely improved their speaking.
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OliviaOxford
UK student, homestay in southern France
Joined: Jun 2024Posts: 161
January 03, 2026#10
Keeping your room clean seems obvious but you would be surprised. My program coordinator told me the number one complaint from host families across all placements is students leaving rooms messy. Respect the space.
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