Five Intangible Benefits of Being a Host Family

Hosting an international student is a wonderful way to help a young person from another part of the world, but it also brings with it many benefits for you as the host family. While you may first consider hosting as a way to help others, you’ll be surprised by how the experience will enrich your family life as well.

Cultural Exchange

One unavoidable part of living with someone from another part of the world is experiencing a different culture. Sure, they’re coming to your country to learn about your culture and way of life, but you’ll also learn a lot about theirs as long as you’re open to it.

This can be a great opportunity for you as well as for your children. Being around people from a different culture is one of the best ways for your kids to learn tolerance and acceptance of a variety of ways of life and beliefs, and being a host family allows you to give them this experience right in their own home.

Growing Your Family

Another wonderful thing about hosting is that you very quickly add another special member to your family. The bonds you form by inviting a young person from another part of the world into your home and helping them experience life in your country will last a lifetime, as will the memories you create.

Share Your Country

There are many things to love about Australia, and this is the perfect opportunity to share these with another person. In fact, you can learn a lot about where you live in the process, and it may just push you to do some of the things you’ve always wanted to do but never got around to. And showing someone else around can help you see your own country and community in a whole new way, which is a wonderful experience as well.

Unique Experiences

Hosting an international student is unlike anything else you’ll ever do in your life. It’s a unique and incredibly enriching experience. As the host, you’ll benefit doubly – first by feeling good that you can help a young person expand their horizons and live their dream, and second by exposing yourself to the wonders of another culture and the joy of being able to add a new special family member.

A New Destination

The bonds you form with your student can last a lifetime, and that also means you may want to visit them in their own country once they’re home. This is a great way to complete the circle of sharing by letting them open their homes to you, and it’s also a nice way to expand your vacation destination options. Visiting your student in their home country will also help you complete your understanding of them by seeing them in their home setting.

Image Courtesy: Old Globe – Kenneth Lu – https://www.flickr.com/photos/toasty/

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