Family Homestays
Living with a family in the host community is one of the best opportunities for learning how to work and relate effectively across the borders of culture, class, creed, and language. The family is a microcosm of the larger society. In its daily routines, cultural expressions, role relations, and communication styles, the family affords guests a fascinating “window” into the lived reality of another cultural group.
All participants in the L.A. Term stay with local families, and it proves to be one of the most rewarding experiences of the program. Through the homestay, students become an authentic part of the host community as they participate in the routines and relationships of their hosts. Attending family gatherings, sharing in worship, or shopping for food becomes a natural part of the everyday life that is shared together.
The L.A. Term staff secures host families primarily through local churches and schools. They consider a variety of factors in selecting a suitable host family: ethnicity, stability, distance from the program center, ability to include students in their family life, space availability, spiritual maturity, and community reputation. Under special circumstances, students may also be placed in a single-parent, extended-family, or multiple-family home.
Host families are asked to abide by the following guidelines when hosting a student:
- Have food available for three daily meals.
- Incorporate the student in the daily life of the family, including chores, religious services, and family outings.
- Live in or near the program contact area in Los Angeles. A host family is not required to provide a student with his/her own room as long as a space for sleeping and storage of personal items is provided.
