Xavier University student spends summer in Viterbo, Italy with a host family
Several University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) study abroad programs offer the opportunity to live in someone else’s house in another country. But, this isn’t like Airbnb or some other booking app – this is an opportunity to share time, space, and companionship with your host family. Opting for a homestay means you will experience daily life in your host city, from your morning cup of espresso to evening conversation and TV.
Laura Dickson, a nontraditional student from Xavier University, opted to have a homestay while taking a summer term abroad in Viterbo, Italy. Not only was it a beautiful place, but it was conveniently located.
“I lived with a mature woman in a lovely building about a 10-minute walk from most of my classes,” she said. “My cuisine class was farther away, but still very walkable. It was great!”
Laura had her own room in a 3-bedroom apartment, use of a private bathroom, access to laundry and internet. All the common areas of the apartment were available for use.
The morning sun lit up the kitchen, welcoming the day and opening into a garden rich with colorful flowers, fruit trees, and birds.
Staying with a host family may be an underappreciated learning experience. Daily life is filled with small interactions with our fellow humans. Staying with local people provides an immersive opportunity where you can begin to understand the culture and the people at a more personal level. The homestay offers you the chance to adapt, practice, and learn!
“I observed an inspiring and beautiful way of moving through the world, with tolerance, patience, grace, generosity, and tremendous resilience,” Laura said.
With respect to communication, Laura says, “I could speak English with my host family, but chose to practice my Italian. My host mom exercised patience, tolerance, and grace for all my mistakes!”
Laura says a good rule of thumb is to be helpful. Try to leave things better than you found them, when you can.
“You truly get out of this experience what you put in, ‘Ottieni ciò che metti,’” she said. “Be open to different ways of interacting, be flexible, and make adjustments to conform and be a good ‘partner’ in your new environment and temporary family.”
For a list of programs that offer staying with a host family, visit https://usac.edu/c/homestay-options.
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