Homestay Program FAQ

The international homestay program is an exciting opportunity!

International students in the CCS homestay program:

• Experience family living in the U.S.
• Establish relationships with Americans
• Greatly increase their proficiency in English

Social and Family Interaction

International homestay students are encouraged to interact with their homestay family and will be invited to participate in regular family recreational activities. Homestay is not intended to be a strictly room-and-board arrangement. Household members will be respectful of your religious or non-religious beliefs and practices as well as your culture and values.

Accommodations

Students will have a comfortable home atmosphere during their stay with a HomeStay family. This includes a private room, bathing facilities and a quiet place to study. HomeStay families will provide necessary household items such as linens and towels. The student’s bedroom will be furnished, including a bed/bedding, desk or table, lamp, dresser and closet. Most homes are located within 200-300 meters of a bus stop. Students may arrange for a private TV cable, Internet and telephone connections. The family will respect the student’s right to privacy including mail and bedroom space. Students must practice the same courtesy.

Food

Full Homestays: The family is responsible to provide a variety of nutritional, well-balanced meals and snacks (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) every day - including weekends.

Shared Homestays: The student buys, prepares, and cleans up after their own meals. That is, the student shares the kitchen with the homestay family. The homestay family will help the student become familiar with the kitchen, explaining use of equipment and where to store food supplies. Homestay families will help students locate the nearest grocery store and offer to take them when they shop.

Duties

Babysitting and Work

Homestay families will not ask students to perform housework or babysit children. In a full homestay, students are only expected to keep their own bedrooms clean and to keep their personal items picked up in other areas of the home. In a shared homestay, students are expected to clean up after their food preparation. If a student has a private bathroom for his or her exclusive use, (s)he is expected to clean it weekly. The family will provide the preferred cleaning products.

Language Restrictions

Students choose homestay primarily to learn English. All household members will be proficient in English and will speak only English when the student is present. Occasionally, in larger homes, two students will be placed with the same host family. But two students from the same home country are never placed with the same host family.

Entertainment

While we encourage homestay families to involve the student in their activities as much as possible, students are generally responsible for the cost of their own entertainment. If your family invites you to join in an activity please ask them what the cost will be. If you prefer not to participate you should feel free to decline. If your family offers to pay your cost for the activity and you would like to participate you are encouraged to accept their offer.

Transportation

Homestay families are located in areas close to a bus route for easy transportation to downtown, the college campuses, malls, and other shopping locations. You can access the bus system map at www.spokanetransit.com/ridesta/routesschedules.asp. Your homestay family is responsible for guiding you to and from school before or on the first day of classes so that you are familiar with the bus schedule and route. The homestay family is under no obligation to provide daily transportation, but offering rides occasionally is encouraged. Most homestay students can reach campus by bus within 30 minutes.

Rules for Students

Students are obliged to follow the rules of the homestay family; however students are generally over the age of 18 and will be give some flexibility. Students over the age of 18 do not have curfews, but students are encouraged to let their host families know their daily schedule and when they expect to return home each day, especially during evening hours. As an international student in a homestay, keeping your homestay family informed of school schedules, introducing your homestay family to your friends, and keeping your homestay family informed of your travel plans are safety factors for your protection. They allow the homestay family to be more aware of situations where you may need assistance.

Medical Insurance

Students are required to have medical insurance through LewerMark Plus Injury and Sickness Plan. You can learn more about this insurance protection at www.lewermark.com. Your homestay family will assist you make appropriate healthcare decisions.

Evaluations

Homestay families are evaluated by the Homestay Manager through in-home visits, criminal background checks (WSP) and student evaluations. Evaluations and information are handled confidentially. The Homestay Manager will request an exit interview with each homestay student to determine future suitability of the homestay.

Reimbursement and Procedures

• Full Homestay (includes food) $550.00/ month; Shared Homestay (no food) $350.00/month.
• Individual day rate: Full $18.75 per day, shared $11.75 per day.
• Vacation rate is $8.00 a day, when student is away but retains his/her room with personal belongings in it.
• Family provides airport pick-up at no charge to the student, unless special arrangements are made with the Homestay Manager.
• A one time fee of $200.00 is charged to all homestay student applicants. This fee includes the initial placement as well as an additional placement if the initial homestay is not suitable to the student needs.
• Homestay families will discuss and complete a Homestay Agreement with you within the first week of your placement.