Hosting an international student could be a life-changing experience

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Canada Homestay Network puts international students into communities across the country with lovely families that open their doors to new cultures from across the globe. Working with students and host families, CHN helps foster education while creating connections around the world. Since 1995 the network has helped tens of thousands of students find a home away from home in Canada, earning themselves a reputation for satisfaction and successful experiences.

Mylene Orr, current host to international students through CHN, came to Lethbridge in 2008 from Quebec and stayed with Ria Pickering. During her stay Orr fell in love with Lethbridge and her future husband thanks to Pickering bringing her into her home and showing her around the city.

“As soon as I got to her house, she started showing me around, the whole experience changed me,” said Orr. “I was taking English lessons at the College, and they organized us to go to the dance. Ria said she would take us, because there were four girls with her, and we can stay later and enjoy ourselves. It was an amazing time. That’s where I met my husband […] I went back to Quebec to finish my university, and after, since we stayed in contact, I decided to come back and be in Lethbridge.”

“I took them to the Great Canadian Barn Dance to expose them to western culture,” said Pickering. “She ended up marrying this guy, and having twin girls. She now lives in Lethbridge, doesn’t live down East anymore. And she wants to host students because she knows what it’s like from me.”

Speaking to her work with hosting international students, Pickering has been a host for 21 years, saying the experience is like becoming a surrogate-mother.

“I treat them like family. They are included in the activities, and they learn independent living skills when they are away from home. How to speak to people, how to go to school, get directions, budgeting, and forming friendships. There is a lot of skills involved with moving to a new country, even if its temporary,” said Pickering. “I have a lot of compassion for them because I can sense the struggle, and I try to be that very friendly, supportive person. I try to have my home as a home base, a safe place to stay.”

Following in that example, Orr now hosts two students from Italy and Belgium, saying their presence in the home brings life into the house.

“They have been with us for two weeks now and it’s been really fun. My girls are ten-year olds and with the girls coming from Europe it just creates a good environment,” said Orr. “Because I’ve been there, I know what people want, and expect. If you have these exchange students, you know they are not here to just look at the four walls in your home, they want to see the city. We go to the Helen Schuler Nature Centre, we go for walks in the coulees. We get to do these things normally, but this time we are seeing it through their eyes, which makes it different in a way.”

Becoming a host family and participating in the exchange program is a great opportunity to share your own culture with a new one, integrating cultures and sharing new parts of the world with people from all over.

“We are learning their cultures,” said Orr. “There is so many little things we learn from the culture, and we never need to travel to get there. We have become good friends and they say, if we travel to their country, their home is our home. I feel like you should try it to understand it. It doesn’t change anything in your home, they follow your rules. It’s just, you have one more person to have a conversation with in your home.”

Hosts receive a generous allowance to offset expenses, 24/7 support, special health and safety training, and the opportunity to bring the world to their front door.

For more information about hosting international students, contact Canada Homestay Network at hostinfo@canadahomestaynetwork.ca or 1-877-441-4443 ext. 2176. To learn more and apply, visit https://whyihost.canadahomestaynetwork.ca.

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