You are expected to provide essentially what you would normally provide for your own family:

• Private bedroom
• Three wholesome meals a day and snacks as required
• Quiet, well-lit and heated study space
• Hot water and facilities for bathing
• Laundry (you can ask the student to do his/her own laundry using the washer and dryer in your house if you wish)
• Emotional support if the student is suffering from homesickness, difficulties at school, etc
• Academic support e.g. help with homework, communication with teachers, attendance at parent-teacher-student interviews, etc.
• Access to the common living areas of the house
• Interaction with the family members and participation in family activities

: What kinds of things should the student pay for?

• Clothes
• School supplies
• Personal toiletries
• Computer internet access. Many students have their own computer / laptop. All costs associated with “getting and maintaining online” are the responsibility of the student. It is strongly recommended that you do not have your international student use your own computer.
• Long distance phone calls. Many students have their own phones (cell phones or a dedicated line installed in the house) in which case they pay any installation charges and all monthly bills. Alternatively students can use telephone cards to make long distance calls. Do not allow a student to run up a bill on your account.
• Medicines of all kinds
• Dental work
• Haircuts and other personal services
• Personal entertainment and expenses (if your family is going out for dinner or to a movie, for example, you should pay for the student.)
• Costs associated with participation in school-sponsored activities e.g. graduation ceremonies, school dances, extra-curricular sports, school trips, etc.
• Stamps, stationery, books, magazines, CDs, posters, etc.
• Costs related to renewal of student visas, travel home, etc.

: Is it necessary to have a criminal record check when I apply to be a host parent?

Yes. All adult members of the family (19 years and over) are included. Visit your local RCMP detachment office to get the necessary documentation. Remember, also, to get criminal record checks if you have children who turn 19 while you are hosting a student, or you have another adult come to live in your home. The cost of obtaining a criminal record check will be reimbursed if the original RCMP receipt is submitted to the Homestay Provider.

Students pay the host family directly. Rent is due on the first of the month. No security deposit is collected. Students arriving a few days prior to the first of the month or stay a few days after the end of a month pay a per diem for those days. This depends on the arrangement the student/agent has made with the school board office. The rent is due on the first of the month. It is wise to sit down with the student when they first arrive and explain how you would like the payment handled. Some families issue an invoice a week or so before the end of the month as a reminder to their student. (Remember they are teenagers and they can be forgetful!)

Students arriving a few days prior to the first of the month or stay a few days after the end of a month pay a per diem for those days.

The Homestay Provider reviews the student’s application and determines what their likes/dislikes are; if there are any allergies; if they are musical; if they are from a large family; etc. The Homestay Provider then finds a family that has similar interests and experiences. This is not a science and sometimes the match is not quite right and a student may need to be moved. This is not to be viewed as a criticism of either the homestay family or the student.

: Can we have more than one student?

We have found that for many students and homestay families having 2 international students works really well. We do not usually place students together if they have the same first language. If a student or a homestay family wishes to be with or have 2 international students we try to accommodate.

The Homestay Provider will be giving you a copy of the student’s application. Depending on the country the student is coming from the application package can be very information or it may be just a minimal character sketch. Some students (primarily students from Europe and South America) like to correspond with the homestay family via email before arriving in Canada. This is encouraged.

The Homestay Provider will also give you a Participation Guidelines document. You should think about the routines you have established in your household. Be prepared to explain the family routine involving breakfast, lunches (i.e. what type of food you offer, who prepares them) dinner, doing laundry, computer and telephone usage, shared chores and homework time and any other topics itemized in the Participation Guidelines.

Discuss with all members of your household the expectations and the challenges of forming a cross-cultural friendship, language barriers, and so on. Learn in advance about your student’s country and culture, and what kind of environment your student comes from. Take some books out from the library about your student’s country. Use them as a basis of conversation to break the initial ice.

• Keep your student busy but also give some time alone. Remember he/she will be jet-lagged and possibly in culture shock.
• Encourage him/her to phone home soon after arrival so the parents know he/she has arrived safely. If you can, speak to the parents yourself saying how pleased you are to have their son/daughter with you.
• Introduce your student to family, friends and neighbours. Write down names to help him/her remember.
• Make sure your student has an ID card with your name, address and telephone number on it, and tell him/her to carry it at all times. This will be issued by the School Board office.
• Take the time to learn the correct pronunciation of your student’s name.
• Teach your student how to use the phone, what your phone number is and emergency numbers, how to use the phone directory, and rules for making calls.
• Help your student arrange for a personal phone, if requested (see above).
• Take your student to the post office and teach him/her to buy the correct stamps. Buy a postcard and encourage your student to send one to his parents immediately.
• Go with your student to open a bank account. Stress not to carry large amounts of money or leave it at home. Show your student how to use his/her ATM card and stress the importance of keeping the PIN number secret.
• Show girls where they can buy personal supplies.
• Go over school information with your student.
• Go over the Participation Guidelines with your student. Depending on the English comprehension level, you may want to go over the document again a few weeks later.
• Discuss schedules for breakfast, showering, school, supper, etc.
• Show your student the route to and from school, or where to get on/off the bus.
• Visit some local points of interest.
• Establish a pattern of daily conversation. Have your student help make a list of conversation topics to get through the first few weeks.
• Relax and make the student feel comfortable.

What kind of rules should I have for the student?

Your student is expected to follow whatever rules you have for other members of the household, age appropriate. Discuss your rules early and often, making sure your student understands the rules and the reasons for the rules. Establish reasonable consequences for breaking the rules – remember, they are children/teenagers.

Some guidelines and policies are as follows:

• Students must let you know where they are at all times
• Students must respect your rules re smoking in or around the house
• Students are prohibited from using alcohol or drugs
• Students are expected to have some light chores or assist with some duties in the home
• Students must ask ahead of time if they need rides to special events, have friends stay overnight, etc.
• Homestay parents can limit the number of overnight stays, both in their home or if the student goes to other homes
• Students must not be left alone overnight; adult supervision in the home must be arranged if you are away
• Students must attend school every day unless they are ill; homestay parents must inform the school if the student is ill
• Immigration Canada does not permit students to hold jobs while in Canada
• Students must not leave the community overnight or on a weekend unless the homestay parent knows where the student is going and checks directly with the adult who will supervising the student(s); unsupervised students (individuals or groups) cannot go overnight anywhere unless we have written permission from the student’s natural parents/guardians.

When your student first arrives, phone the school and make an appointment to see the counselor with your student. You will need to fill out a school registration form. Encourage the timely completion of homework and check on progress. Attend meetings and parent /teacher conferences when needed. Showing an interest in your student’s progress contributes positively to his/her Canadian education experience.

The District Principal – International usually takes the International students on trips every 6 weeks. Information regarding these trips or any meetings is emailed to each homestay family. A list of all the International students and their homestay families names, phone numbers and email addresses is also sent to all active families.

: If my student has an accident or falls, are his/her medical expenses covered?

Squamish students - Take your student to the School Board office with their passport. The student will be enrolled in the medical plan and have their picture taken.

Whistler and Pemberton students – The medical enrollment certificates will be sent to the secretary at your student’s school. She will arrange to have your student sign the certificate. Your student is to keep the bottom portion of the certificate. She will also take a copy of your student’s passport and study permit. Please ensure your student takes his/her passport to school on the first day of class. Your student’s medical coverage will be in effect immediately upon arrival.

The private medical coverage certificate from Strategic Financial is usually accepted as “payment” in Squamish. However, if your student needs medical coverage anywhere else, they may be asked to pay at the time of service or they may be billed. In this case, the original invoice is to be sent directly to Strategic Financial as per the instructions on the back of the certificate.

If your student is attending school for more than 1 semester, they will automatically be enrolled into MSP effective 3 months after arrival. Their medical cards are mailed to the school board office, photocopied and then forwarded to your student’s school. Any students here for less than 6 months will remain on the private insurance for their entire stay.

Canadian food can be a problem for international students at first. Eating times, table manners, methods of serving and presenting food may also be different. Many Asian students prefer a hot breakfast and a hot lunch. Latin American students are used to a large meal at lunch time.

Take your student food shopping with you, especially to the ethnic food section, and ask your student what he/she would like. Rice is an important part of the Asian diet; rice and brown beans of the Latin American diet. Have your student select the type of rice. Minute Rice or Uncle Bens is nothing like the rice your student is familiar with.

Give your student a tour of your kitchen, naming food items in the cupboards and refrigerator.

Encourage your student to prepare a favourite dish for your family. Discuss with your student who prepares breakfast and lunch (sometimes the family does; sometimes the student does. If the latter, you as a homestay parent must provide the ingredients.)

This happens very seldom, but it does happen. The Homestay Provider will be in contact with you within the first few weeks of your student’s arrival to see how things are going and to answer any questions or concerns that you may have. We encourage you to let the Homestay Provider know as soon as you can if you are having difficulties. If after reviewing the situation it is felt the difficulties cannot be resolved, we will move the student. we determine whether there is another family with interests more closely aligned to the student and if so, we will move the student.

Contact the Homestay Provider or District Principal. The situation will be reviewed carefully and, if warranted, the student will be sent home. Consuming alcohol is an example where this has happened.

For short holidays, we encourage you to make private arrangements with a friend of the family or a friend of your international student. Please let the Homestay Provider and the school know.

If your student is planning on staying in town during the summer and you are not able to have them stay with you, please contact the Homestay Provider and an alternate arrangement will be made.

There are two books available for loan from the School Board office International department:

• The Host Family Survival Kit by Nancy King and Ken Huff
• The Essential Guide for Homestay Students by Harvey Schachter

The second book will be part of your orientation kit, and the student will also be given one, often in his/her native language.