Ever thought about becoming a Homestay parent for International students? Tap into Google search and type in Homestay [and your local city]. See which organizations can support you. You will have to complete a screening application but once that's complete, you get to choose who you'd like to sponsor: m/f, age, place of origin, length of time.

You can opt to choose anywhere from 4 weeks to one year service. You can also take breaks in between. [ie: sponsor a student for 3 months; take a break for a month; sponsor for 4 weeks; take another break... As long as you inform the agency to keep your name on the list, they will keep calling you for as long as you'd wish.

Here's a typical write-up of what you will be expected to provide:

1. Provide a safe, clean and comfortable home.
2. Provide a private, furnished bedroom which will include a bed, desk, lamp and storage space.
3. Provide three meals a day. (i.e. A basic breakfast, a nutritional bagged lunch and a full and healthy supper.)
4. Provide access to shared laundry, telephone, television, bath facilities and in certain homes, access to the Internet.
5. Provide a convenient location in a residential area close to bus routes and downtown location.
6. Help you get oriented around your new neighbourhood and Canadian/American traditions.
7. Treat with respect and kindness.
8. Have a maximum of 2 students with a different language per home.
9. Have family members of English speaking Canadians/Americans.
10. Show you how to use of public transportation.
11. Encourage and assist with their language studies.
12. Provide a welcome kit which will include a key to your new home, a map from your home to your school, a transit guide and tourism booklets to make your transition easier.

In addition to our host family requirements, we have a company mandate that the homestay experience is the most important aspect of international students and as such we devote a lot of time and effort into carefully screening and getting to know our Host families.

I'm personally looking into this service myself. I know many people in my area who do this and say nothing but positive things about it. It's a great learning experience for our children as well as for ourselves.

Just an idea to think about.