Welcome to your Host Forum, proudly administered by Canada Homestay International! http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/index.php Sun, 20 May 2012 12:25:08 -0400 Phorum 5.2.14 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,223,223#msg-223 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,223,223#msg-223
The short answer is: maybe.

Canada Homestay International advises all hosts to give their insurer a call and explain their hosting activities. We have been unable to give a concrete response to this question because different insurers have different interpretations of the hosting relationship. Some will consider, as we do, the student to be a member of the family, and recognize that the hosting stipend is only there to defray expenses and ensure that cost doesn't prohibit anyone from participating in this program. Other companies see the hosting stipend as payment for service, which they feel is outside the realm of typical guest visits.

So please check with your provider and make sure that hosting isn't affecting your policy!]]> nathan General Discussion Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:31:32 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?21,221,221#msg-221 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?21,221,221#msg-221 Where: The Real Canadian Superstore in Westboro 190 Richmond Rd., Ottawa. It will be held in the cooking school on the second floor.
When: Saturday, April 14, 2012
10am-12pm (Chinese Cuisine)
- OR -
2pm-4pm (South American / Brazilian Cuisine)
Cost: $20 per attendee, per session

Please contact Jennifer (613) 686-6764 ext 2042 to sign up! Limited placements!

Are you interested in a class like this in YOUR locality? Please contact me! Use your local phone number, and dial extension 2042.]]> jmackie Food & Meals Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:35:12 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?11,219,219#msg-219 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?11,219,219#msg-219 team page to put faces to names and learn a little about who your local Relationship Managers and Interviewers are. You can also see photos of us an many of our hosts and students on our Facebook page. Check 'em out!]]> nathan Introductions Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:52:57 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?2,218,218#msg-218 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?2,218,218#msg-218
In an effort to build a lasting reference section for our hosts, we have been building up two online resources where hosts can go for things like commonly requested documents such as our Travel Permission Form, cultural tips, hosting policies, and the tools to update your profiles.

For most of our hosts, our Host Portal is the main online resource. Each host has a unique username and password to access our portal, which requires registering to use it before you'll be able to log in. Once you have logged in, you will be able to:

[*] Update your host profile family or home photo
[*] update your banking information or sign up for direct deposit
[*] access our cultural resources pages
[*] see an archive of our "Canadian Hosts" newsletter
[*] download many hosting forms
[*] and more!

You can see why we keep this area secure! Our host wikis are online community hubs that are specific to individual cities. Presently we have host wikis in Ottawa, ON; Coquitlam, BC; and Victoria, BC. Our host wikis are less secure, some being open to the public while some use shared log-in information for all users. Another important feature of the wiki is that the content is editable by anyone. We use wikis for community-specific or group-specific information, so that hosts can comment or ask questions about the information posted in a way that lets other hosts see the conversation.

If you have trouble using, or any questions about either system, please don't hesitate to contact us!]]> nathan Tech Support Forum Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:12:20 -0500 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,216,216#msg-216 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,216,216#msg-216
One of our hosts recently shared her experience with a student from China, who around mid January began to feel a little down. Our host was very perceptive, and was able to pick up on this quickly. Though the student couldn't initially put her finger on what was bringing her down either, the host's intuition lead her to dig a little deeper. Eventually they together realized that the student missing Chinese New Year was at least a part of her malaise. This lead to an interesting cultural discussion, in which the host learned a lot about Chinese culture. The student was able to express herself and in the process of sharing about the customs in China at this time of year, was able to shake off some of her blues. This is the kind of experience that makes homestay such a wonderful exchange for the student and host!

We encourage hosts to take seasonal celebrations as opportunities for exchange with their students. There are lots of places online to learn about holidays around the world, including Canada Homestay International's Facebook page, where we often highlight important international dates. That said, the very best place to learn about the holidays in your student's home country is from your student. Take a few minutes and ask them to tell you about any festivities back home they'll be missing while staying with you. It may help your student avoid some homesick blues, and you may learn a lot!]]> nathan General Discussion Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:05:42 -0500 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,209,209#msg-209 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,209,209#msg-209
1 - Your student should discuss with you their plan for a day or an evening out, in advance, providing all details.
2 - These details should include where they are going, whom they will be with and their cell numbers, when they will be home (curfew for that event), and how they will be travelling to and from their excursion. You should evaluate together whether it sounds like "a good plan."

As you discuss these social opportunities with them, you will want to take a number of factors into account, as you would if they were your own children:
a) are they in good health and have they been at school all week;
b) is there anything you have planned for the family that would be compromised by their absence;
c) do you know their companions and are you comfortable with their character and judgment;
d) has your student been briefed on what you expect them to do if plans change;
e) do they know how to keep themselves safe (dress, behavior, choices);
f) is their cell phone charged and will it be on;
g) do they have your numbers and a taxi company number in their cell phones;
h) do they have $30 on them at all times to take a taxi if they find themselves in an uncomfortable situation, or their bus has unaccountably stopped running.]]> nathan Challenges & Solutions Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:24:20 -0500 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,207,207#msg-207 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,207,207#msg-207 lisa j Challenges & Solutions Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:29:41 -0500 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,205,205#msg-205 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,205,205#msg-205
We would love to get your perspective. If there were 100 points of responsibility to disperse among the following parties, how would your estimation of the distribution of responsibility go?

[*] students
[*] host families
[*] homestay coordinators
[*] natural parents
[*] the student's agent or representative
[*] the school board
[*] others?

There is no correct answer to this question, so we would love to hear your opinion!]]> nathan General Discussion Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:31:46 -0500 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,200,200#msg-200 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,200,200#msg-200
1. bedroom cleanliness: couple of times, I caught a glimpse of her room when she left the door open while in the washroom. Her stuff was all over the place. it was extremely messy to the point where I can't even see the floor or let alone unsure if it is safe or not to walk around in the room. I have asked her to vacuum the floor, and she took everything off the floor and put everything back again.

2. boyfriend visit: I laid down the rule that we do not allow overnight stay for any friend of the opposite sex. but what do we do if they stay in the bedroom and engage in sexual activity while we're not home?

3. grocery shopping: I brought her to the supermarket the first time so I know what kind of food she likes. since then, she has asked us to bring her to supermarket few times and one time she ended up buying a whole bunch of snacks and costs us $50. We've told her that anything above/beyond what we provide, like snacks and food that she wants to buy only for her own/her friend's consumption while at our house is her own responsibility. even after that, it didn't seem to sink in to her mind. Yesterday, she asked us to bring her to supermarket so she can buy snacks for her friend when they come over and celebrate her birthday at home. But, she doesn't want to pay for it herself and wants us to pay. So we told her again about the rule and she ended up just buying a bag of doritos :s.

We are very confused on what to do or how to approach her differently. Any input will be highly appreciated.

Thanks
Maria & Alex]]> maria.santoso Challenges & Solutions Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:05:17 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,199,199#msg-199 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,199,199#msg-199 Brrr!

While some winters are better than others, it goes without saying that Canada is often colder than a lot of other countries (even in the spring and fall). This year, forecasters are calling for an even chillier winter than normal in Alberta and BC. See the story here: [www.cbc.ca]

Acclimatizing to the Climate

We often hear about students who have trouble adjusting to the cold winters (though they also want to see snow!).

[*] I know of one host whose student left his bedroom window open at night in September and October, to help his body adjust to the cool air.
[*] Other students simply invest in winter outerwear, though may need to be encouraged to wear more than just a t-shirt under their parka!

What do you do to help your students get used to the weather, if they arrive in the fall?

Heated Debate

We also hear about students who find our homes are kept uncomfortably cold. I have a programmable thermostat that drops the daytime temperature to 18C (65F). In the evening it goes to 20C (68F) but overnight we lower it to 16.7 (62F).

[*] We dress more warmly in the winter, with long underwear and other layers. I work from home, and sometimes I bundle up with a blanket if I'm sitting for long periods.
[*]Some hosts allow their students to use a space heater in their rooms, though this can become costly if they forget to turn it off.
[*]If you don't have one already, I would strongly encourage everyone to invest in a programmable thermostat. Not only will they reduce your annual heating costs...(As a general rule, you will save 2 percent on your heating bill for every 1°C you turn down the thermostat overnight. Reference: [oee.nrcan.gc.ca])... but you can also satisfy your student's need for warmth by turning it up only when your student is home in the evenings, say from 5:00-9:00 pm.

I explain to my students that my thermostat settings are mainly motivated by a desire to reduce energy consumption. This is a great opportunity to talk about Canadian views on energy use and climate change, and can segue into conversations about recycling, transportation and so on!

If you start to talk about the rising cost of fuel (electricity, gas, etc.) - you risk treading on very thin ice (pun intended). Some students believe that the money they are paying for homestay should cover all costs related to their comfort, heat included. We advise hosts to steer clear of any conversations about the cost of hosting, whether or not your students have asked for an explanation. Keep your relationship focused on hospitality, and you won't regret it!

Do you think it's fair to keep your house cool, or should hosts increase their thermostat settings?

Share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a comment on this thread!]]> Jennifer Challenges & Solutions Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:44:30 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?21,195,195#msg-195 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?21,195,195#msg-195 I'm a new Relationship Manager in the Ottawa area, and also have a food/nutrition related educational background. I'm wondering:

What has your biggest food challenge been (maybe one student in particular, or a regular challenge) and how have you, as host parents, overcome it?

Also: Do you have a favourite recipe that you and your student(s) have developed together, and how did this further/strengthen your communication and relationship with them?

I look forward to seeing your responses, and can't wait to participate in these forums!
Have a great weekend!
~JenniferM]]> jmackie Food & Meals Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:48:34 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?21,193,193#msg-193 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?21,193,193#msg-193
Please share your favourite soup recipes here!]]> nathan Food & Meals Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:44:42 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,191,191#msg-191 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,191,191#msg-191 Joanne General Discussion Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:16:38 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?11,189,189#msg-189 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?11,189,189#msg-189
Originally from the UK, we arrived in Ottawa in 2004 and are now,happily,Permanent Residents. I participated in foreign exchange programmes myself, when I was a language student, so know how daunting it can be arriving in a strange place and moving in with a family you have never met! I also know how great it can be when you meet that perfect family, as happened to me. I am looking forward to helping in anyway I can to bringing about a happy and successful experience for both the student and the host family. Grateful for tips and advice!]]> hilary Introductions Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:10:29 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?21,185,185#msg-185 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?21,185,185#msg-185
Please tell us about your garden treasures. How does this help cut down on your grocery bill? Do you have any tips on getting started as a gardener?]]> nathan Food & Meals Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:02:59 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,183,183#msg-183 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,183,183#msg-183
We'd love to hear your ideas for how to handle the increased work associated with hosting an international student.

- Does your family pitch in more with housework?
- How often do you go grocery shopping now?
- Who does the laundry in your house?
- What do you do on nights when you just don't feel like cooking?
- What about housekeepers?
- What do you do when you want to be spontaneous and go away for a few days?

Post away!

Jennifer]]> Jennifer Challenges & Solutions Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:12:37 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,182,182#msg-182 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,182,182#msg-182
Have you turned around an experience like this for the best?

Do you have any suggestions or questions for us?

Cheers,

Jennifer]]> Jennifer Challenges & Solutions Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:49:52 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,181,181#msg-181 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,181,181#msg-181
We've all been there: your student comes home from school and goes straight to their room, shuts the door and barely makes it out for dinner.

Or... their English level is so low that you resort to miming every other word, you have to tell them how to do something several times, and you're never sure what they have understood.

What's your challenge related to communicating with your students, and how have you addressed it?

Cheers,
Jennifer]]> Jennifer Challenges & Solutions Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:48:13 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,180,180#msg-180 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,180,180#msg-180
You may recall that we conducted a survey of hosts last spring on the topic of host family burnout. The results were very helpful for us, and I hope that you will agree that overall they were very positive.

We sent the survey to 3,000 families across Canada, with 400 responses (a statistically representative sample).

The majority (66%) of survey respondents do not feel burned out; they had positive things to say about their experiences and were happy to offer advice to their fellow hosts. The top seven challenges that hosts face include:

[*] Communicating with Students (31%)
[*] Getting students to interact with family (30%)
[*] Insufficient information about students before arrival (30%)
[*] Increased housework, work of hosting (27%)
[*] Finding meals that everyone enjoys (26%)
[*] Discipline/behaviour issues with students (24%)
[*] Financial Pressures (23%)

We are going to start new threads for these topics, to give you a forum to discuss your solutions and strategies for each of those topics specifically.

If you have any general comments about avoiding or addressing host burnout, please use this thread.

Thank you!!]]> Jennifer Challenges & Solutions Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:44:37 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,176,176#msg-176 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,176,176#msg-176
Also, how much debt does Canada have compared to the US? I've read the Canada survived the great depression pretty well with only a dozen bank failures compared to over 600 on the US side, what do you think is the deal now?]]> Carl Brill General Discussion Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:11:36 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,118,118#msg-118 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,118,118#msg-118 Justbe Challenges & Solutions Tue, 31 May 2011 14:36:11 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,117,117#msg-117 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,117,117#msg-117
It involves becoming fluent in a second language, as well as living abroad. Both of these are often on the grand lists many of us keep of things to do before we "kick the bucket".

What's on your bucket list? Is there a place you've always wanted to see? Maybe a language or instrument you've always wanted to study? Start a B & B or other business? Share your dreams with us!]]> nathan General Discussion Tue, 10 May 2011 15:19:39 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,111,111#msg-111 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,111,111#msg-111
Consumers across Canada are enjoying the benefits of a booming new industry: online variations of loyalty programs. Here are a couple of websites where you can register to receive notifications of discounts & special offers:

www.groupon.com
www.swarmjam.com
www.teambuy.ca
www.livingsocial.com

Do you already use services like this? Have you found any neat new businesses through these offers?]]> nathan General Discussion Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:49:50 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,110,110#msg-110 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,110,110#msg-110
From time to time, we get questions from hosts about taxes and host allowances.

CHI's company policy is to advise hosts to consult a professional for advice about income and income tax. Furthermore, CHI does not provide T-slips or other evidence reporting payments other than the stubs that are attached to the cheques when they are issued.

However, CHI is obligated by law to report all payments to host families if the CRA requests that information from us.

I hope this helps!

Kind regards,
Jennifer]]> Jennifer General Discussion Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:48:24 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?21,109,109#msg-109 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?21,109,109#msg-109
Have you ever had a student who wanted to cook in your kitchen? Chances are it will happen at some point if it hasn't happened already.

The reality is that for the kind of high-heat stir frying that many Asian students prefer, our vent hoods are simply not strong enough to clear out the vapourized grease and odours that inevitably result.

If you've already gone down that path, here are some tips to remove those smells from your house:

* Bowl of vinegar, pieces of charcoal, or onion halves will absorb food odour. You may get a strong vinegar smell for a while but it will disappear. Place them in any room you want to get rid of the smell. Remember, it may take days to clear the smell. You may have to replace some of the ingredients, as they can only absorb so much smell.
* You can also light some candles! I use drops of concentrated oil in the little candle burner too.
* The best way .... open the windows & doors & let it air out for 5-10 minutes when no one's home. That helps too!

Our final words of advice: do not allow your students to stir fry unless you have installed special kitchen hoods from Taiwan or Hong Kong manufacturers in the future!

Cheers

Jennifer]]> Jennifer Food & Meals Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:39:55 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,106,106#msg-106 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,106,106#msg-106
Please share your favourite activities that you do with students. Bonus points if they are fun, cultural, free or cheap!


Christine Hogan got us started with this tip:

Here in Ottawa, there is a programme for all full-time students (both secondary and beyond) called the "Rush Programme or in some cases (Centrepointe Theatre) called the EyeGo Programme. It allows students to purchase same day tickets to a wide variety of theatrical, cultural, and social activities for prices as low as $5.00. The NAC, Ottawa 67s, and Scotiabank Place and many other social arenas have signed up for such. There are some good plays coming in the next months at the Centrepointe for as low as $5.00 - good value for the money.

-Thanks Christine!]]> nathan General Discussion Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:42:16 -0500 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,99,99#msg-99 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,99,99#msg-99
There are a few things to know that might help you avoid those overage costs, and save everyone in your home some stress:

1. Find out what kind of online activity everyone in your home is engaging in. Be specific, find out which websites everyone visits.

2. Avoid, and encourage others to avoid streaming and downloading large audio and video files.

[*] Downloading is the process of transferring files from the internet to your computer for use later.
[*] Streaming is the practice of watching videos or movies or television shows online. The user does not save them on their computer, they just watch them on a hosted site such as youtube.
[*] Both downloading and streaming are very common, but the user should know the size of the files they're accessing/downloading.
[*] Both downloading and streaming can be done in legal or illegal manners. This is why knowing which websites the residents in your home are accessing is important.

3. Know how much bandwidth your internet package offers, and how your home's usage compares. Both Bell & Rogers offer packages ranging from 2 to 100+ gigabytes per month.

[*] Downloaded movies are typically around 700 megabytes each. A single song from iTunes might be anywhere from 5 to 20 megabytes.
[*] 1 Gigabyte = 1000 Megabytes
[*] Consider asking your internet service provider to notify you when your account's monthly bandwidth allowance reaches a certain point, say 75%, each month. If it's still early in the month, then you know a conversation about usage needs to take place. If notifications come early every month, you may want to reconsider your internet plan.

As with most issues, the key to this problem is open communication. If you and your students can discuss their online habits honestly, there is bound to be a reasonable compromise. Watching movies online isn't in itself a bad thing, nor is downloading, but anything done in excess can be problematic.]]> nathan Challenges & Solutions Tue, 08 Feb 2011 08:42:28 -0500 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?21,96,96#msg-96 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?21,96,96#msg-96
How do you get honest feedback on the meals you serve?

Do you post a meal-plan for all to see?

Has student participation in meal plans exposed you to any pleasant culinary surprises?

Would you be interested in having C.H.I. suggest meals or meal plans?

Please share your experiences with the rest of us!]]> nathan Food & Meals Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:28:23 -0500 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,95,95#msg-95 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?13,95,95#msg-95
It seems to go the same way every time: you arrive, tired and excited for the challenges and opportunities ahead. At this point you know there will be challenges and you're excited to take them on as learning opportunities. But at some point, things don't seem so rosy in your new environs: the water tastes funny, you saw pictures of a great party back home that you missed, you don't understand the language as well as you thought you would; you become overwhelmed.

I've always heard that this tends to happen around the sixth week of a long tour. What has been your experience?

When do your students seem to hit the wall?

What can we do as hosts to help them?

Is this a positive experience?]]> nathan Challenges & Solutions Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:38:26 -0400 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,94,94#msg-94 http://www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/phorum/read.php?14,94,94#msg-94
I always find it interesting to hear why some folks like hosting youth, while some vow that adults are the way to go. Each group certainly brings their own challenges and rewards!

Which age groups do you prefer to host? Why?]]> nathan General Discussion Thu, 21 Oct 2010 11:35:18 -0400