Homestay Tips

Moving to a new country is an exciting but challenging time. International students arriving in Canada must learn about and adapt to cultural norms and values that are often very different from their own.

These guidelines suggest a few things you can do as a Homestay Host to help your guest with the transition to Canadian life.

At home:

1. Prepare an initial plan with your guest of the things he or she would like to do during the homestay.
2. Discuss your house rules with the student. i.e. meal times, phone use, bathroom use.
3. Most students come from countries where dogs and cats are not treated as pets or allowed in the house. The student may be nervous or wary, and should be introduced slowly to the pets.
4. Make a point of discussing food preferences. Your guest may be forbidden certain foods for religious or other reasons. Many guests may enjoy cooking you a traditional meal if the ingredients are available locally.
5. Encourage your guest to participate in family activity life: visiting neighbours, enjoying picnics, going to the movies, etc. If admission charges for activities are involved, it will help your guest to stay within a limited budget if he/she has some idea of costs before accepting invitations to participate.
6. Show your guest how to use the Yellow Pages of the telephone book. Your guest may ask to use a prepaid calling card to make international calls. Depending on your house rules, you may wish to assist them in making the call.
7. If you have friends who share the student's field of study or other interests, perhaps they could be introduced to each other.
8. Take pictures throughout the homestay. They will be a very special souvenir for you and your guest to keep as well as to WUSC.

In your community:

1. Provide help in using the public transit system for travelling to campus and around the community.  
2. Assist the student in opening a bank account, preferably on or near campus.  
3. Consider visiting a grocery store, pharmacy, local market, post office etc.  
4. Assist the student in planning how to find permanent accommodation in a clean, affordable and safe environment.
5. Assist them in obtaining suitable winter clothing. GoodWill and Thrift Shops can be an excellent resource for students.
6. Consider attending a garage sale to help them furnish their permanent accomodation. Garage sales also offer a unique introduction to one aspect of Canadian culture..
7. If time allows, introduce them to reasonably-priced fitness and sport facilities such as the local YWCA, public pools or university campus facilities.
8. Teach your guest how to use coin-operated laundromat machines.

On campus:

1. Point out where the campus is so that the student knows where to register for classes. Please note: it is the student's responsibility to register him/herself, not yours.

For more information: 
1-800-267 8699 ext. 3663
homestay@wusc.ca  
1404 Scott Street 
Ottawa, ON  K1Y 4M6