Cultural Homestay International

I learned so much during my time abroad and had fun doing it. My host family was wonderful and I got to meet so many new people. Overall, it was a great experience and one that I would definitely recommend others try.

After spending a month teaching intermediate English to a 10-year-old girl in Tashkent, I now believe Central Asia is a very misunderstood region. I truly appreciated the opportunity to experience Uzbek culture through teaching and living with a family. Learning about their daily life, eating meals with them, and being absorbed into their routine was eye-opening because I quickly realized I felt right at home. I had forgotten what it is like to feel valued, appreciated, and respected. My family took me under their wings right away, inviting me to a wedding, visiting their family in another city, and attending cultural events with them. The only way I knew how to reciprocate was to be my relaxed and happy self. I know I have gained friends for life. I didn’t want to leave Uzbekistan and could easily have stayed one more month.

I had a wonderful experience with my Spanish host family. Living with them and becoming accustomed to their schedules and lifestyle was great cultural immersion, and I built relationships with my host family I hope to continue even after I return home. I do think that speaking the local language (in my case, Spanish), was a huge help as I was getting settled, and it let me engage more with my host family and their community. I also think the experience is very dependent on the host family you are matched with. My hosts included me in all of their activities and showed me nearby towns and attractions on the weekends, creating some of my favorite memories from my time abroad. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the World Explorer's program!

Thanks to this program I was able to go to my dream country JAPAN. I had the best experience of my life because I lived with several families and I was able to live what they do daily. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

When embarking on the program, I was not expecting this would change my life, change who I was and am. The first two weeks were transitioning period, when I was trying to learn from the family and build my own infrastructure. I was meeting other foreigners and travel around city. I was able to set up a great working schedule for the Kids. My teacher background was definitely useful. My Host family showed me around and brought their relatives. I've actively learned local culture, traditions but at a pace that would allow me to write down my journey and just enjoy being present. Food journey was particular fascinating. I participated in a few culinary classes and that was absolutely amazing Two months passed by very quickly. I became a different person and hopefully changed the kids for the better. Their English improved as well too. We became very close friends. I will definitely be coming again to visit my Host Family.

As a student of the Russian language and someone who looks for opportunities to go to Russia itself, sometimes it is hard to find programs that will indeed send you to Russia. Luckily, Cultural Homestay International is available to help with that. Through them, I was able to go to Russia for two months in two different locations which, ultimately, gave me a very well rounded experience. Furthermore, they are very open to communication and are easy to get a hold of if you need help with something. Both placements were great, I had enough money from my stipend to live and interact with the community, my accommodations were very nice, and I am already looking forward to going there next summer. Everyone I worked with was professional, and extremely helpful in helping me find my way around both towns, and with interacting in Russian. I was able to gain some friends with whom I still stay in touch. Overall, I very much enjoyed this opportunity to connect with Russians, and my Russian skills grew exponentially while there. I highly recommend this program.

I had amazing experience in Baku, Azerbaijan. I taught English to students in the age of 10-17. They were not only my students, they became my friends. This is what I appreciate in volunteering. It’s not only job but helping people to reach their goals, making friends and open you full potential.

Cultural Homestay International helped make my dream a reality. For years, I have wanted to study Russian in Russia and experience life on the other side of the planet firsthand. Heidi at CHI walked me through the entire process and was able to answer all of my many questions before departure. All of the details were worked out and everything was set. I chose to do a three-month teaching program in a small Russian city about 8 hours north of Moscow. If I could do it again right now, I would! My experience with the program was fantastic. Not only was I able to experience a new culture, but I was also able to quickly learn conversational Russian all while making lifelong friends. I taught at a language school that caters to students of all ages. My host family was incredibly hospitable and welcomed me into their home for the entire duration. I really enjoyed staying with them and we made great memories together. They took me to many different places in the region and helped me along the way with any questions I had. While it was my first time teaching, the teachers at the school were so helpful in sharing their knowledge and helping to shape me as a teacher. My last day there was a sad day but I know it will always be there for me to visit. When I wasn't teaching at the school, my host family and I were conversing in Russian and English and we were able to learn a lot in a very short time. During my free time, I took trips to Moscow and Saint Petersburg, as well as some smaller cities closer to mine. The entire trip was fantastic and I would absolutely recommend this program to anybody who is contemplating something like this. I have made so many wonderful friends and memories that I wouldn't trade for the world!

I reviewed numerous travel abroad programs before selecting CHI, as it was by far the most flexible. The CHI staff are all extremely friendly and dedicated to ensuring a good experience. Before my stay in France, and I received tons of support, travel information, and advice from CHI, and during my stay, I was in constant communications with my coordinators. I am minoring in French at my university, and really wanted to improve my speaking skills and become more fluent. This program allowed me to exchange our respective languages with my host family. In addition, CHI provides you with several English language worksheets, charts, dialogue material, and other materials that makes it quite easy to teach English. The flexibility of the program gave me the time and opportunity to explore my city (Dunkirk) and interact with the locals, as well as travel to other places in France, and in other countries. I really loved the freedom I had to improve my French, while being able to travel and explore Europe.

I visited Russia two times and it was such a awesome experience, knowing new people, new culture and language. I already know Russian language but I need more practice on it. When I read here there is an opportunity of working in Russian I got excited because teaching is one of he most exciting activities I like to do. My native language is Spanish but I can teach English, Spanish and Portuguese. I would love to help you guys with English anytime. I'm planning to make my trip to Russian this year but still don't have the specific moment.

Through the World Explorers program, I was able to travel abroad safely and at an affordable cost for my first time ever. I had an amazing time in Spain and made so many unforgettable memories. The host family I was placed with was awesome and they were always so curious about my home life, my own family traditions, and what life is like in the United States. I was able to try many delicious and new foods like squid, paella, "toast" for breakfast, freshly squeezed orange juice, sangria, and so much more. The great thing about the World Explorers program is that it is very flexible and allows so much free time. I was able to take Spanish speaking classes and make friends from all over the world. On the weekends, I took trips to different cities all throughout Spain like Malaga, Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba and also was able to travel to Portugal and Morocco through a student travel program based in Sevilla where I lived. Teaching English was very simple and stress-free, though I do recommend bringing fun games, American treats, and fun crafts or activities to do with the kids to spice things up for lessons. Overall, I would highly recommed CHI for any kind of travel and I am looking forward to traveling again through them becuase I had a very positive experience.

I chose to stay in Croatia to learn more about the country and culture as my grandfather was from there. I couldn't have asked for a more lovely family to spend a few months with living in Zagreb. They welcomed me into their home and shared their extended family and way of life with me. I was able to gain a better insight into the history and culture of this gorgeous country and lovely people. I made many new friends and was able to travel to other parts of Croatia as well.

It had long been a dream of mine to visit Russia and take in its amazing culture, language, history, and architecture. What better way to do that than engage in this volunteer program as well as experience life as a local! What I enjoyed about the program was the degree of flexibility, which allowed me to spend a lot of time on my interests and understand the place and people, as opposed to a formal work environment which would give me less time to immerse myself in the country. The teaching style was more informal and conversational-like which was quite interesting as you had to be creative to ensure they were learning and having fun, but could be a little challenging at times since you had to make your own judgements about their progress. I spent three weeks with a family in Voronezh at the beginning of my trip, a city of approximately 1 million, which gave me a good insight into Russia and allowed me to adjust to the culture, the Cyrillic writing, and the environment without being too overwhelmed. The family was very hospitable and always ensured I was comfortable as well as cooking many delicious Russian dishes for me! I then went to Sochi and stayed with an amazing family in Sochi for five weeks. Sochi was the highlight of my trip with the family treating me as their own family member. We had many engaging conversations where I learnt a lot about the country, saw beautiful nature sights of Sochi, met their extended family, and also got to participate in the World Cup fever! I also met many people from different countries and parts of Russia, and had the privilege of visiting Moscow and St. Petersburg which were also major highlights of my trip, giving me many amazing memories. Overall, the whole experience exceeded my expectations, got me out of my comfort zone, and will stay with me for a long time to come!

I was placed with a wonderful family and was afforded many unforgettable opportunities. Heidi Smith was extremely responsive to all of my concerns and questions. I could not have asked for a better experience. I highly recommend this program for its affordability and the opportunities it offers.

One month later, as I faced the predicament of if I wanted to leave the country (China) or not, I remembered how my adventure started with a shy, scared American woman who was clueless of the changes that were about to happen. It is truly amazing how much I’ve changed since the beginning of my trip to China. Beijing, the capital of mainland China, sported more stores, restaurants, markets, and Starbucks on one block than I see in an entire city in America. My host family was by the far the best part of my stay. I didn't just learn about their culture, but I shared mine and my future career goals. My host family was very supportive and encouraged me to get out and see my new surroundings. The tutoring sessions were my another favorite part of my trip as I introduced several new card games to my host family and videos that have helped me learn English in the past. My host sister loved learning new English songs and singing them in the car before school. I had plenty of free time to explore Beijing and the surrounding areas. I saw many tourist attractions with my host family and other World Travelers. China is an amazing country and anyone who wishes to go off the beaten path will find China to be worthwhile and a rewarding experience. CHI is an amazing organization to go through if you have the heart to travel and wish to share your culture, learn a new language, make new friends, and teach English.

I ventured to Italy to teach English for a few months during my gap year as I apply to medical schools. This experience helped to broaden my horizons and gave me a deeper appreciation for different cultures and the human condition. I know that this experience will aid me in my future career. Just like anything else in life, a trip with CHI will be what YOU make of it, so get out, meet new people, and enjoy this beautiful world that we've been given to explore.

Very good experience, CHI does its utmost to provide you with teaching resources, travel advice, information on the city and family and on top of that they give lots of reassurances and confidence boosts. They are very good at finding you a host family and helping you get in contact so you know what to expect from the family. They're also with you 100% of the way, not just getting you there. Wonderful group!

Through Cultural Homestay International, I got to spend one month living near the city of Heilbronn, Germany; just North of Stuttgart. The family I stayed with was very nice and accommodating, even the room they gave me was nicer than the one I have back home! While in Germany my duties were to "teach" the children English two hours a day. But because the children were only 5 and 7 years old, any traditional lessons would have bored them, making them not want to learn with me. So what I ended up doing was just playing games with the kids. We would play board games, build Legos, play in the yard, and all sorts of other activities together. By the time I left, both the parents and I could see a vast improvement in the children's English. I was also allowed to travel on my own. I spent 3 days in Berlin, where I got to meet a lot of other travelers, and even made a few new friends. I also got to see the cities of Nuremberg, Heidleburg, and of course, Stuttgart. It was an amazing journey that I cannot recommend enough!

My original plan wasn't to go to China this summer but to my surprise that's where I ended up. Using CHI was a safe, easy and affordable way to see Shanghai. While there I stayed with a very nice young family. I ate amazing Chinese food, a lot of which came from the families garden. The house was comfortable and close to public transportation. Shanghai is an international city with lots to see and do. The air quality is better then Beijing and the metro is awesome. My CHI coordinator was helpful and always available to answer any questions. I happened to be the only CHI volunteer in Shanghai so meeting with other program volunteers was not possible. That was okay I still meet some amazing people to hang out with and enjoy the sites. I spent time with my host family working on conversational English and a summer English homework packet. Along with seeing Shanghai I also visited Wei Hai ( a beach city) and Wuzhen (a water town). All in all it was an amazing summer learning about eastern culture and sharing western culture with some awesome people. I would definitely use CHI again. It's a great way to travel and see the world

In Mongolia, I ended up finding myself in an unknown country teeming with culture and tradition. I spent most of my time in the capital city of Ulaanbaator, a bustling city of over a million people. The city was very much alive and moving, as people were constantly commuting and taking part in various activities. The food may take some adjustment for westerners, but I assure you it is made by working hands and comes with some of the friendliest service in the world. I am so very glad I had the opportunity to venture off in this wonderful city. If anyone has the chance to visit, I would highly recommend it.

With the help of Cultural Homestay International’s World Explorer Program, I was able to travel abroad and teach English for three months. I chose to go to Germany as I had previously studied German at A Level and I have a passion for the language. I stayed in a town called Groß-Umstadt in Hessen (an hour from Frankfurt) with a lovely host family. My job was to teach the son, Tom, English as he was struggling behind at school and had grown increasingly frustrated with learning it. Once settled in, everyday life was very comfortable as I had a lot of time to wander through the surrounding forests, plan lessons and eat far too many sausages. I drew on my own language learning experiences to figure out how to teach Tom English without boring him or confusing him. My approach was to make no lesson seem like work in order to keep him engaged and learning. It proved to be somewhat effective as he went from worst to best in the class, achieving 97% in his end of year exam. The experience was also great for my German as I was always meeting people and going to places so being hesitant with my German was not an option because few people spoke any English. I am far from any sort of fluency, but German movies, songs and books make far more sense and having the ability to converse with strangers in a foreign language is fun as well as useful.

To whom it may concern, My names Amanda Sanders and I have been an Au Pair for almost 7months now. If I had to give this job 3 words I would say hard, rewarding, and fun. It's hard because I work with 3 children, all different ages. Working with kids is never easy and let me tell you when I first started I truly thought I couldn't do it. Once I started to get to know the kids, what they liked, a good way to discipline them, and how to care for them not just through making sure they are fed and cleaned but also there feelings, it became easier and a lot more enjoyable. This job is rewarding in so many ways! You have no idea what it feels like to be having the worst day ever, home sick, not feeling well, and a 6 year old comes up to you and says "Manda I love you" and gives you a kiss. I got to Germany towards the end of June and when I got there the youngest Marita who is 6 was having a very hard time swimming and she couldn't do it without her floaties. We practiced and practiced and by the end of the summer she was practically a professional, jumping in with no fear. I got to teach her how to really ride a bike. I have been able to attend their sporting events, musical events, celebrate birthdays and so much more. This job is fun because let's face it kids are fun. I honestly have a wonderful time with the 3 of them. They make me laugh, and really remind me what it's like to be a kid again. Now do not think it's always fun or always hard. Some days are worse than others. Some days I don't feel good, and some days the kids don't. Max the oldest is 11 and that's a hard age! He's maturing, and obviously going to try and test you in anyway he can. Gustav is 9 and a very big mama's boy so when the parents leave to go out of town he's truly upset, and sad, and that's just something I have to deal with. To be honest an Au Pair is such an important job! You are not just someone who looks after them, makes them dinner, or makes sure the rooms are clean. They grow to love you, trust you, and care about you. I have Marita tell me all the time "I am really going to miss you when you leave me.. I promise I will never forget about you.." To be honest you become almost like a fill in parent when their real parents are to busy with work or travel. They depend on you to go to there events, to help them with homework, or to love the art work they made that day. They ask you personal questions, only because they are curious and they trust you enough to ask. Becoming an Au Pair was the most amazing decision I have ever made! My heart is so full with love, and respect. I had mentioned this job is rewarding and I forget to say it's not just rewarding with the children but with all the experiences you get to travel. I have already been to 7 different countries, and got to experience so many things. So again if I had the choice to pick between this job and another, I would again pick this job. It's most definitely something I do not want to do for the rest of my life, but it is one job I feel so blessed to have worked, and experienced. If you have any questions or want to know anymore about me or this job let me know. Thank you and enjoy!

Although this is a volunteer position, it is a great experience not only for travelers, but for teachers interested in teaching in different countries. It can give you a better understanding of the culture, family dynamics, and also about teaching itself. it is a great way to experience new and authentic things.

I had such an amazing time in Madrid with the family that i was with and all of the other wonderful people that i was lucky enough to meet! This trip really opened up a lot of doors and thanks to CHI I can now say that i have added these people as part of my family. I cannot wait to go back and visit! Hasta luego Madrid :)

I usually don't take the time to write reviews, but CHI definitely deserves it. I am very glad I discovered CHI. CHI provide a unique and safe way to experience a country. Living with a local family opens up for experiences you would miss elsewhere. Staying in a country combined with living with a native family reveals so much more about a place, because you experience it through the eyes of the locals, rather than in a tourist or a traveller-bubble. A central part of CHI program is tutoring english and culture exchange, this makes the bond with the family close. My impression is that this kind of program also attracts especially good and decent people from both sides, as the premise of the stay is honest contribution from both parties. It quickly transforms into a great friendship with the family. Cultural International Homestay did a highly professional and thorough job matching me with a very good family in Beijing. The follow up has been good. I recommend CHI to my family and friends.

I feel so blessed to have found this program and to have been able to be a part of what they are doing!! The opportunity to live in a city and experience it as more than just a tourist really was a fabulous experience. My host felt like a dear friend right from the moment that she met me at the airport. I cried at the airport when the time came to say goodbye only one short month later. I've made a friend for life! The relaxed pace and love for life there was contagious... and the scenes weren't bad either! : )

I truly enjoyed my 1 month experience in Belgium. The host family was inviting and very accommodating . I learned new things as they did too, and I think this mutual relationship is something that will benefit me for the rest of my life.

I spent two months in Korea. The first few weeks I lived with a host family in Incheon and then I moved to a host family further south in Gumi. Both families were very kind and I learned a lot about the Korean language and culture in addition to helping their children learn English. The program directors were very helpful in providing me with resources to help teach English. I did have difficulty finding activities to participate in outside of my host home since I was there for a fairly short time and it did not coincide with any of the scheduled Korean courses, but I did explore the area and there were many interesting sites. Korean food is excellent and everyone I encountered was very friendly. Often people will try to speak English to you, but they also appreciate it if you try to speak Korean.

My stay was good. I was safe, in a clean house, nice neighborhood, and not much else. I was a little disappointed when I found out the location was not really Barcelona, but rather a posh, quiet, pretty boring, neighborhood about 20min away from the city. I could still commute to the city on my free time, but for anyone coming here next, I would emphasize that this family will rarely go into the city with you, and that you are pretty much not part of the city at all, but rather a commuter. The family was very nice, but pretty conservative and get get pretty loud sometimes during their family argument, so just a fare warning. Back to Sant Cugat, it can get boring, but there are tons of hidden hiking trails, and a train stop that drop you off at a major trailhead. I would recommend getting a Spanish teaching podcast going and hit the mountains everyday. There's a lot of wildlife and great views out there. Otherwise, stay was good, and you're in Europe, in a beautiful country, so at the end of the day I greatly appreciated this opportunity to stay out here in Catalonia (Not Spain).

I was placed with a family in rural korea for one month. The family was very kind and loving, and their two adult children were eager to learn English. However, I had to travel by bus everywhere to buy things. I felt safe in Korea, and noticed that many people weren't scared of me but scared of the possibility that I might speak English to them. Public transport in Korea is not as good as Japan, so you have to ask the driver always if the bus is going to your stop. Korean food is good, but you have to worry about if it is sanitary in the countryside. The countryside is very poor in Korea, and is nothing like the city. Howevere, Korean people are very kind, and will help you if you ask for it.

I really enjoyed the program and experience the low cost of the program for a multi month stay made it as accessible and affordable as staying on my college campus back in the states. Great way to expand on your language skills (whether you are still learning) or like myself had gone far in a school setting but searched for a more intensive setting of being in the country with a regular family! I was so lucky to have an amazing host family and stay in Lacanau which is a beach town in SW France where there were so many other youth! I can say that my host family really made the experience one of the best of my life, But without CHI I would have never had this opportunity and experience with security and certainty but at the same time authentic and unique!

The total summary of this program can be best described as this: it was unlike anything I had experienced while being exactly like what I had done before. It was completely different in that I experienced a different country from the point of view of it's people and learned about their daily routines and a bit of how they form their life-layout plan. It was the same in the sense that the every-day house life was exactly like back home. It got to the point where several times I forgot I was a visitor and even in a foreign country. All lot of that probably has a lot to do with the laid back culture of Brazil. I went in with plenty of worries about how to act and adapt, but half of it was done for me by this program and the family. I couldn't have picked a better country to test this program in and suspect visits to the other countries they offer are not far in the future.

My interest in this program was to help others and receive help in return - tutor in conversational English and improve my German. I had an interest to further my learning in the German culture and language by experiencing a full immersion. The agency provided me with tools to help with activities, education about the ways of life in the USA and a great partner agency that involved me in many community opportunities. I met other volunteers from different locations around the globe during my stay and presented at a German High School about culture differences. It was a comfortable and welcoming stay and experience.

Being a part of this program was life changing. It definitely wasn't a vacation, but it was an amazing experience I will carry for the rest of my life. The coordination and price of the trip was impressive and I knew I could always count on the program to help. The families I stayed with truly took care of me. They showed me around Spain and they were so wonderful to me. Just speaking English with them was enough for them to fill the gaps in their English knowledge. I still talk to them now and again. The culture of Spain is beautiful and carefree. The best trip abroad I have taken. I recommend this program if you truly want to be immersed in a culture.

CHI is an incredibly supportive program. I was based in Madrid, and the two months I spent there was a great time. The ECVA/World Explorer program was a great way for me to finance my travels outside the US, as I was volunteering my knowledge of the English language in payment for a bed and meals, which any traveler will tell you are the two most costly expenditures when traveling. I was able to visit Valencia for Las Fallas, Sevilla for Feria de Abril, and went skiing in Andorra during the program duration. I am thankful to CHI, as my direct contact in the program, Heidi, could not have been more helpful when I needed her. I was placed with a good host family, although I think the trouble we ran into was the age difference. If I could choose again, I would have looked for a family with children closer to my age. To all those looking at participating in CHI's program, I recommend you to know what it is you are looking for in a host family, as that is a HUGE part of how enjoyable your experience will be.

I would highly recommend anyone who wishes to go to someplace new and unique they try the Mongolia program. Mongolia is unlike any place I have ever been and will probably remain unlike any place I'll go to. It's at times challenging, but it's part of the experience. Travelling should be challenging. It should confront your expectations of life and pre-conceptions. It was also a lot of fun. Overall, a highly worthwhile trip and would recommend again.

Overall, I had a great experience in Spain with ECV. My host family went above and beyond to make me feel welcome. There was never a time I felt alone. There was always someone I could talk to if I needed help. I was able to improve my Spanish language, learn about the culture, and meet new people. The only negative thing I have to say is that my friend and I did the "buddy program" and I did not feel like we were able to spend that much time together based on where we were located.

I had an absolutely amazing experience on the ECVA program in Sao Paulo, Brazil in the fall of 2013. I stayed with my 2 host brothers, Joao and Paolo, for 1-month. The cool thing was that both of my hosts were close to my own age, so we basically just got to hang out a lot and get to know each other. The English lessons were really casual - CHI provided tutoring materials but I hardely used them! My host brothers wanted to learn the lyrics to American songs, movies and videos. Both of my host brothers worked at a bank, but during different shifts. Their schedules allowed me to tutor them individually - one in the morning, and one in the evening. In my free time, I got to explore the city on my own and met some other great Brazilians. I was able to meet my local coordinator and volunteer teaching English to some other students through the agency in Brazil. I had the weekends to travel and I went to Ubatuba and to Rio. Brazilian culture was so awesome and I made friends that I hope I will keep in touch with forever! I highly recommend the ECVA program in Brazil!