5 Reasons to Say Yes to a Homestay Abroad

By: Hosanna Assefa

I was in the middle of eating my lunch in the dining hall when I received that daunting email. “CIEE Barcelona Housing Survey Due Tonight!” the subject line read. I immediately grumbled. I was procrastinating on this task because I still did not know what to do. Most of my friends were doing study-abroad programs in other countries, so my dream of staying in a shared apartment with them was gone. “Should I just do a single dorm, then?” I thought to myself. Being almost settled on this option, my cursor hovered over the “select” button for a second. Then, my eyes drifted down to the option below it. “Homestay,” it read. Hmmm. It can’t hurt to consider it, right?

Having done a homestay in a prior experience abroad, I remembered the great time I had and the connection I made with my host family. But that was only for about 2 weeks. Still, there were many benefits of staying with the host family that I began to ponder on. Eventually, I resolved to be adventurous and choose the homestay option. Now, in the last week of my program, I can say that it is one of the best decisions that I’ve made abroad. However, I realize that not everyone has the opportunity to know what it is like. So here are 5 reasons why I think you should do a homestay.

1. Cultural Immersion. Staying with a host family abroad means that you get to take a free, daily class on the local culture. From the food to the language to the lifestyle, living in a homestay exposes you to the culture in a way that other housing options can’t, because you are interacting with locals (your host) on a day-to-day basis. For example, I became aware of certain holidays and traditions that I wouldn’t have known otherwise. I got to observe the lifestyle and habits of Spain and enjoy them myself (like siesta hello?? I get to take a nap after lunch??). Not only is it interesting to learn more about different cultures, but it also makes you a more well-rounded person by learning from people who aren’t like you. If you do a homestay, I promise you that you will become immersed in the culture, and it will educate you on the way locals live.
2. Learning the Language. Staying with a Spanish family has improved my Spanish astronomically. When I first arrived in Spain, I only knew the Spanish that Dora had taught me years ago. I could barely hold a conversation -scratch that- I could barely hold a sentence. However, even if it was difficult at first (and thank God they knew some English), talking to my host family every day gave me more exposure and opportunities to practice the language. Not only that, but practicing with them allowed me to receive personal feedback and correction, further improving my understanding. If you are seeking to learn your host language during your time abroad, definitely consider doing a homestay.
3. Saving Energy, Time, and Money on Meals and Laundry.  Lucky you! You don’t need to spend money or time worrying about what you are going to eat or even doing your own laundry. This is one of the more obvious and materialistic benefits of doing a homestay. Having visited friends doing shared apartments and single dorms in other study abroad programs, this is a huge benefit that I don’t think many people take advantage of. In other accommodations, sure, you get to cook and have more responsibility for taking care of yourself, but people don’t realize how time-consuming and tiring it is. Not only do you have to go grocery shopping probably weekly, but cooking also takes time (and a mess to clean up). And, of course, the costs will add up. The same goes for doing laundry. Because I’ve chosen a homestay, I’ve been able to save so much money on meals and laundry that can now go towards trips to other countries. Plus, you get to try some authentic, native cooking (my host dad makes the BEST Spanish cuisine)! If you’re not a good cook, or a bit lazy regarding making meals or keeping up with your own laundry (like me), consider this benefit of doing a homestay.
4. Getting Advice and Recommendations for Your Time Abroad. Your host will surely know about the city you’re living in and have so much knowledge about things to do, places to see, and food to try. During my time in Spain, my host family has given me a plethora of things to do in my city, as well as other places in Spain and Europe, and it has thoroughly enhanced my travels abroad. You can only find so much to do on TikTok, but an experienced host can provide you with first-hand experience and many hidden gems. If you’re feeling lost on what to do in your host city or even on different places to travel, consider a homestay!
5. Making An International Connection This one is my favorite benefit. Depending on how much you choose to interact with your host, you have the potential to make a new friend or family abroad. Some of my favorite memories of abroad are my talks with my host family over dinner every night, where we shared about our day, learn about each other, and told stories about our lives. They truly welcomed me into their family and are the sweetest souls that I know. They made living in Barcelona feel like a home away from home. Even when I go back to the States, I plan on staying in contact with my host, and I’ll always know that I have another family back in Barcelona if I need it. If you want a valuable connection that you can look back on in the future, consider a homestay!

Not convinced yet? That’s fine, your decision is ultimately yours and everyone has their own experience abroad. My goal, however, is to educate others on the beautiful realities of this seemingly scary housing option. My experience would have been 100% different if I hadn’t done a homestay, and I am grateful every day that I decided to take a leap of faith all those months ago and choose this option. Now, will you?

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