Hello. This really has nothing to do with traveling, but I just had a couple of questions. This next semester, my family and I are hosting an Austrian girl. She will be in the United States for five 1/2 to six months. I would really like to show her some great things in the U.S., but I'm having a hard time trying to come up with some good ideas. Could any of you help me? Have any of you hosted an international student before? If you have, then how did you make their stay more comfortable? I really don't want her to hate the U.S. and I want her stay here to be a memorable one.
Shortly after she leaves, I am going to Germany for a month. I will probably go to Austria too, so I think the both of us will learn a lot from each other. Thanks.
A Lost 16 Year Old Girl

P.S. This next coming school year I am hosting my boyfriends brother. He will be in the U.S. for a whole year. I live in Kansas and I am very close to KCMO. But what is there to do around this place?!?!?

Hi lov,

I think that you will get a better response on the US board.

What is KCMO? Kansas City Metropolitan Opera?

Hi! We hosted a student two years ago and loved it!! He was from Germany and lived with us for a year. Before he arrived in Texas, our family researched Germany to learn about their culture. I bought the German flag which was hanging outside our home when he arrived. We showed him alot of Texas and our culture. We took him to Austin, San Antonio, New Braunfels, Dallas, and Houston, TX. We took him to some rodeos, cooked BBQ, steaks, Mexican food, and of course to football games. We went to our local high school games, the University of Texas Longhorn games, Dallas Cowboys game, Houston Astros baseball games, just to name a few! He loved it here in Texas and the U.S. so much, it was very hard to see him leave. We are now going to spend this Christmas with him in London and Germany!! Hope this helps you!! Have fun!!

I have been an exchange student in Finland many years ago and my family hosted a student from Costa Rica for a year. Its a great experience for the family and the student. Take them to things you may take for granted but are typical American like a sporting event, festivals, 4th of July type things etc. Don't forget that they will also be teaching you things about their culture. Our student used to cook traditional food from Costa Rica every Friday and it was always a surprise and fun. Also take them to any outdoors things in your area i.e nature reserves etc as well as the usual fun teenage things like going to the movies with friends and parties. They want to go back and tell their friends and families about their American experiences. See where you live from a strangers eyes and you will see a lot to do! Have fun

To Cowboyz and SiobhanP

Hi. Thank you so much for your responses! I appreciate it!
This has helped me out a lot. I've come up with a few ideas. I was thinking that I would take her to KU Basketball games, movies, the zoo...there are a lot of things to do around here. I think it will be easier to amuse her instead of my boyfriend's brother. The Austrian girl is from a small town and so she knows small town living like I do. Fortunately I am really close to Kansas City, MO.
On the other hand, I have my boyfriend's brother who lives in Frankfurt am Main. He's lived there his whole life and basically knows city living and nothing more. Since he's a guy, I hope this doesn't make our experience less fun since we have less in common. The good thing is that we talk all the time through e-mail and phone, so I know his arrival will be more comforting. Well he won't have a problem with me because I'm going to see his brother (my bf) next summer so I'll be meeting him then.
When you hosted a the Costa Rican student Sio, how did you help them cope with their homesickness? I'm really afraid of that.
Thanks again.

Having been an international student years ago, and as a college professor who has many international friends past and present, let me offer some suggestions.

First, you must play by ear how much privacy your guest needs and/or wants.

Secondly, be prepared to combat homesickness. It is only natural that a young person have some adjustment problems. Anyone who has worked with college freshmen knows what I mean.

Third, do not assume perfect knowledge of English. How well do you know your guest's language? Could you listen to a TV show in his or her native language and get even 50% of it?

Fourth, if the guest needs help with English, get it or give it. Otherwise, help with slang terms not taught in school. Many Austrians have had several years of demanding English courses, so my anticipation would be a high level of fluency. But check it out. It is likely not native fluency, particularly with slang.

Fifth before giving your guest the social whirl of your own choosing and design, you might try asking the guest what he or she likes. Just because they are foreign does not mean they are ignorant, nor does it mean that they have no preferences.

Sixth, bear in mind that your selection of foods might be something he or she hates. I ran into that problem. Some of the dishes I was served literally made me sick. I ended up in the emergency room with acute gastritis and severe dehydration -- IV infusion level.

Seventh, make sure that your guest's wardrobe is suitable for the climate.
I cannot think of a more acute adjustment than a Norweigian being a guest in Phoenix, AZ in August, or a Greek student being in North Dakota.

Eight, you need to be prepared to take remedial measures if your guest shows signs of being cutoff from other people from his or her native country. The guest may want, even need desperately, to call home and assure her parents that all is well. With dial around phone rates like PT-1, the cost is minimal.

Ninth, give your guest some space, and some freedom to come and go on their own like a normal person, but don't abandon them all day for a week. I got a little tired of being shown off as the American curiosity when I was in Europe. Your guest is not a freak because they are from another country.

Tenth, be sure that your student has sufficient money and that she knows how to access funds. The US banking system is far different from that in Europe. We are far less cash oriented.
You must have the financial details fully understood and procedures worked out.

Eleventh, don't assume that your guest will appreciate the ramifications of the crime problem in the States. You and I know that in most big cities, there are areas to avoid strictly, particularly after dark. That type of need for vigilance and self protection is not fully appreciated by many Europeans. For example, in a city like Innsbruck, Vienna, Salzburg or Munich, I never worried much about being out late at night, alone. Seeing single women on the subway in Vienna and Munich is not uncommon. For example, a single female friend of the family, who lives in Munich, comes and goes at will at night. She learned quickly not to do that here.

Usually the student will do fine, but be sensitive to all problems of adjustment. There is a happy medium that can be achieved in all endeavors that are tailored to your guest's needs.
I think the big rule of thumb is don't over do it, and be sensitive to your guest's likes and dislikes. And have the financial part of it straight before you start. T screw up there can sour the whole thing right away.

Hi lovin,
I have been an exchange student several times (back in the dark ages) and have also hosted a few. Here's an idea: take advantage of the opportunity and do some things you don't usually do or have always wanted to do (unless, of course, it's not at all in the student's range of interests). Go to a pop concert, go camping, go for a bike trip, go volunteer together for a weekend, go visit relatives or friends in another city or state, learn to do something new together. As for homesickness, it really helps if you let the student show you something from her (his) hometown or country: how about asking the Austrian girl to show you how to bake a Linzertorte or a Sachertorte? Or watch skiing on TV and ask her to explain what makes a good skier? Hang a good map of Austria in the house and try to learn the cities, towns and mountains. How about the national recycling program in Austria - ask her to explain. Maybe you could use a webcam or msn messenger so she could chat with her family & friends - maybe you could chat with them, too! Have fun!