Students in the SAU Canterbury program will live with British families in homestay settings.  The homestay provides students with wonderful opportunities to gain firsthand experience with British culture, as they will be interacting with a British family on a daily basis.

The International Office at Christ Church International University has screened local families carefully to provide our students with a safe, secure introduction to everyday British life.  Many of the families have hosted students for years and have become veteran guides to life in Canterbury.

Below we have provided an excerpt from the program's student handbook, prepared by Dr. Janet Friend Westney (ICISP - Harper College) and Jayne Anne Kilvington (Canterbury Christ Church University):

YOUR CANTERBURY HOMESTAY ACCOMMODATION

INTRODUCTION                                     SMOKING

STUDENT'S BEDROOM                          VISITORS

BATHROOM                                           TELEPHONE

CLEANING                                             PROBLEMS

LAUNDRY                                              NOTES TO THE

ACCESS TO YOUR HOME                        HOMESTAY FAMILY

MEALS                                                  HOMESTAY AND THE

"BED AND BREAKFAST                           STUDENT

      WITH USE OF KITCHEN"

INTRODUCTION

Accommodation is a very important aspect of the students’ whole experience at Canterbury Christ Church University, as the students come from a variety of countries and cultural backgrounds they may have expectations and assumptions regarding behaviour and attitudes which may differ from the University. If a student is unsettled or unhappy their studies can be affected, as can their health. It is, therefore, important that the University work with the Homestay families to ensure that specific and required aspects of the accommodation to be provided meet a set list of guidelines. Most problems that occur are due to misunderstandings that can often be avoided with a thorough discussion on both sides.

The ICISP Program includes your living with a British homestay family within walking distance of the University.  The family has been approved by the Accommodation Office to host international students and is contracted to provide the following to you:

STUDENT’S BEDROOM:

The room should be for the sole use of the student to allow for privacy to be respected and should not be shared by children who may have toys stored in the room. 

Every room must contain as a minimum:

·         Comfortable, full-sized single bed.

·         Supply of warm bedding/linen and extra blankets/duvets.

·         A study desk/table and a chair of comfortable height.

·         Desk Lamp.

·         Adequate drawers and wardrobe/hanging space.

·         Central heating (Gas/Electric fires are not acceptable)

·         Clean change of Bed Linen once a week.

The room should be heated between 7:30am-8:30am and from 5pm-11pm.

BATHROOM FACILITIES:

A daily bath and/or shower together with use of towels should be available to the student.  However, it is your responsibility to ensure that you leave the bathroom clean after use and ventilate, as necessary.  The homestay family should demonstrate the use of all bathroom appliances, as the student may not be familiar with their use in comparison to facilities in the US.

CLEANING:

Students living on their own for the first time may be completely unaware of what standards are expected of them. Students should keep their rooms in a tidy condition. Students’ rooms should be cleaned (vacuumed/dusted) once a week at a time agreed between the student and their homestay family.  It is the responsibility of the student to leave the room in an appropriate state for it to be cleaned.

LAUNDRY:

One machine load of  washing is included in the weekly price. The homestay family will either do the students washing for them or show them how to use the washing machine. The homestay should arrange with the student when washing is to be, or can be done, together with an explanation on facilities available to dry their washing, and use of iron and ironing board.

If a student has more than the average load of washing, the University suggests a charge of £1.75 per load. Alternatively students may use the Laundry facilities available at the University for their excess washing.  Details of these facilities may be obtained from the Students’ Union or International Office.

ACCESS TO YOUR HOME:

Students must be provided with their own key.  The University expect students to respect the homestay privacy but expects you to be able to access the homestay and your room whenever needed. The University understands that your programme timetable may vary to others and that the student may not have a full timetable everyday.  Therefore the homestay will expect you to be able to feel at home.   We expect you to be able to access your room throughout the day, particularly in the winter.  A possible exception to this arrangement might be the agreed time that the room is to be cleaned each week.  The University and ICISP ask that students inform their homestay families if they expect to return particularly late in the evening or will be staying away over night.  You should leave an itinerary of where you will be visiting, where staying and with whom if you leave town to travel.

The University also expect students, as part of the household, to be invited to watch television or listen to music or spend time talking with the rest of the homestay.  The student may wish to spend time studying quietly in their room in the evenings but it is good for them to feel part of the family and to know they can access the lounge without feeling they are intruding.

BOARD BASIS: MEALS

It is important to realise that what is considered typical British food may not be suitable for all international students (e.g. if there is cultural or religious significance attached to certain foods). Individuals may also have their own preferences or allergies.  These should be discussed with your homestay family on arrival.

BED AND BREAKFAST WITH USE OF KITCHEN:

Students should be provided with breakfast at an agreed time each day at a reasonable hour for both homestay families and student or the option of making their own, and access to the kitchen facilities for preparing lunch and evening meals. Although the University quite understand that the full English breakfast is no longer customary, a students might typically be offered fruit juice, cereal, toast and an egg with tea or coffee to drink, or an alternative to each of these if necessary.  If you wish to have a bagel or other breakfast food either tell your host or purchase yourself and ask where you can store food in the kitchen. 

The homestay will need to provide the student with storage space in a cupboard and a fridge, use of cooking pans, utensils and crockery. Set cooking times and use of facilities should be agreed with students from the beginning of their stay. Students are expected to tidy the kitchen after use and wash up their crockery etc.  The University Refectory in the Student Building is also available as required for other meals as necessary, with a meal card available at  discounted rates. 

SMOKING:

All University homestay accommodation is non-smoking so it is not unreasonable for a homestay to request students do not smoke in the house.  

VISITORS:

It is important for students to be able to bring a friend to the house should they wish. You should confirm with the homestay from the beginning the arrangements for bringing guests, whether its  to be asked each time, how often, where they can be entertained and at what time they must leave.

TELEPHONE:

Many of the Universities students are thousands of miles from home and a call to, or from, their parents can be a great comfort.  Students should ask homestays when they arrive what arrangements exist regarding the use of the telephone. Students should never use the telephone without the permission of the homestay and should be aware and appreciate time differences around the world could cause problems when making or receiving telephone calls from friends and family.  Students can also purchase phone cards that can be used at phone kiosks at the University or alternatively hire a mobile telephone for £30 pounds plus calling charges from the International Office subject to availability for incident access in case of emergencies or for use during independent travels.

PROBLEMS:

We do realise that sometimes a homestay families may be unhappy with a student, or vice versa, for no specific reason other than a personality clash. If this is the case and it is something that cannot be resolved, please contact Jayne Anne Kilvington, International Student Services Officer.  It is the University policy to agree to move a student once either the student or the homestay families consider the situation unacceptable.

WELCOMING STUDENTS: NOTES TO THE HOMESTAY FAMILY

The first meeting between Homestay family and student is extremely important and can influence the relationship for the rest of the student’s stay. Here are a few guidelines that we request of our hometay families to help them welcome their students:

·      Please remember that the majority of our students would have been travelling for many hours when they arrive at their Homestay.

·      Please make them feel welcome: offer a drink, introduce yourself and any other family members present.

·      Show them to their room and bathroom facilities, and allow them to freshen up. You may need to explain how to work the shower and/or other bathroom appliances.

·      Although it is important to set ground rules and explain how things work, too much of this in the first day can make the student feel unwelcome and overwhelmed. It is, however, important to explain certain things as soon as possible. Although students are issued with guidelines about staying in Homestay, the interpretation of a third party can sometimes lead to misunderstandings before arrival.

·      The most important things to explain are: use of shower/bathroom appliances, board basis/use of kitchen & timings that suit the family, locking of front door/house security, smoking restrictions and use of telephone.

·      Please encourage your student to ask you questions. Do not be put off if they are particularly quiet to begin with, as students’ can be quite nervous in the first few days. Encourage them to talk with you and make them feel welcome. 

·      Do not assume that your student will know what they can and can not do, (For Example, if you do not invite them to watch TV in the living room they may assume that they are not allowed in the living room).

·      Obviously each individual will take a different amount of time to settle in and remember how to do things, so please be patient. By the end of the first week most students will have a good grasp of the household routine, but please still encourage them to ask questions.

·      Problems often arise due to misunderstandings in the first few days. Once the University gets involved it can make students feel uncomfortable so, in the first instance, we encourage students to ask you directly about any problems or anything they do not understand. Similarly, we ask you to try to  work out any problems with the students directly at first, but by all means make us aware of the situation.

HOMESTAY AND THE STUDENT:

When you arrive it is often awkward to move into someone else’s home and you will also be suffering from jet lag.  Present your homestay family with their gift(s) and get some rest!  In the next few days you should sit down with your homestay and review “house” rules as well as discuss your own expectations.  You should discuss the following: 

·      When you will eat breakfast (provided in program costs) and what you like for breakfast.

 

·      Use of the kitchen - where you might store a few supplies, as well as room in the refrigerator. (Please remember that often times British have very small refrigerators and kitchens without a great deal of storage space.  It is customary for them to shop almost on a daily basis due to storage limitations.)  How to use kitchen appliances, the oven, toaster, etc. Clean-up.

 

·      Bathroom procedures: best time for you to use, cleaning supplies, where to store your personal items.

 

·      Use of phone.  (It is often better to call using a phone card from any pay phone in town or on campus.)

 

·      Be aware of turning lights off, not taking a long time in the bath or shower, not turning the heat up without permission, etc.  British people are much more resource conscious than Americans and usage is much more costly for them.

 

·      Request a house key.  Let your homestay family know when you will be coming home late or travelling; where you are going, with whom and for how long.  It is important that they know your whereabouts in case there is an emergency of some kind.

If you have concerns or feel that the conditions of your homestay are NOT being met, PLEASE let one of the American faculty know immediately as well as Jayne Anne Kilvington in the International Office.  If your safely is at risk, you are uncomfortable with homestay members, or you are not receiving the required room and use of kitchen, then it is within your right and you should request a move.  Often times, misunderstandings are cultural in nature and this is why you should try to spend some time getting to know your homestay family and giving them an opportunity to know you.  Discuss questions in a timely manner so they can be resolved.  If you wish to move only to be closer to a friend or for some reason that is not deemed to be a necessity, there will be a £25 pound fee imposed.

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