Friday, 30 December 2011
What it means to us to be a host family
As I mentioned this is an adventure we fell into by accident, but the difference it has made to our lives our children's lives and hopefully our host sons & daughters has been life enriching.
I was 27 newly married with a 5 year old daughter, I couldn't believe that colleges/ language schools would accept us as a host family. But accept us they did and with in one week we were meeting our two new host daughters ( Spanish & Brazilian).
We were nervous, excited, scared but above all wanted to make sure that they were comfortable & included in our family. We needn't have worried they were fab and fit in easily. They were to stay with us six weeks. I was aware that they had been an emergency move from another family but didn't want to be pushy and question why. After a few weeks they told me that they had requested the move because of the way the other family hosted
The girls said it was clear that they thought it a business. The girls had to leave the house in the morning by 8.30am, not to return home before 7pm, dinner was 8pm , meals weren't eaten with the family and once dinner was over the kitchen was locked with the girls expected to retire to their room for the night
It was then I realised that we had so much to offer as a host family, sure the few extra euros help but this is not a get rich job, in fact it's not a job at all.
So what does being a host family mean to us?
It means opening not only your home but your lives and sometimes even your hearts to some of the most wonderful people you might ever meet. It means treating your host son or daughter how you would like you or your children to be treated. But above all it's about being a family that welcomes and includes.
In return you will benefit by making new friends learning new things and the happiness that only a thank you card or gift can give you
I was 27 newly married with a 5 year old daughter, I couldn't believe that colleges/ language schools would accept us as a host family. But accept us they did and with in one week we were meeting our two new host daughters ( Spanish & Brazilian).
We were nervous, excited, scared but above all wanted to make sure that they were comfortable & included in our family. We needn't have worried they were fab and fit in easily. They were to stay with us six weeks. I was aware that they had been an emergency move from another family but didn't want to be pushy and question why. After a few weeks they told me that they had requested the move because of the way the other family hosted
The girls said it was clear that they thought it a business. The girls had to leave the house in the morning by 8.30am, not to return home before 7pm, dinner was 8pm , meals weren't eaten with the family and once dinner was over the kitchen was locked with the girls expected to retire to their room for the night
It was then I realised that we had so much to offer as a host family, sure the few extra euros help but this is not a get rich job, in fact it's not a job at all.
So what does being a host family mean to us?
It means opening not only your home but your lives and sometimes even your hearts to some of the most wonderful people you might ever meet. It means treating your host son or daughter how you would like you or your children to be treated. But above all it's about being a family that welcomes and includes.
In return you will benefit by making new friends learning new things and the happiness that only a thank you card or gift can give you
Thursday, 29 December 2011
Christmas
So at the moment we have two French, one German and an Irish girl living with us. All went home for Christmas except for our French.
Christmas here starts on Christmas eve after the troublesome twosome ( son aged 4 & Daughter 2) have gone to bed. My parents joined us this year too. So ham sandwiches and wine were consumed while everything was prepped for the next day.
Thankfully Christmas morning didn't start too early, in fact I was awake at 8am waiting for the rest of the house to stir. We were joined by our two guests at 10am. Along with my parents and the three children they all headed off on the Christmas morning golden mile walk for charity.
Best made plans and family visiting don't go together Christmas dinner was a bit late than planned 6pm but we all finally sat down to the traditional Turkey, Ham with all the trimmings
Christmas here starts on Christmas eve after the troublesome twosome ( son aged 4 & Daughter 2) have gone to bed. My parents joined us this year too. So ham sandwiches and wine were consumed while everything was prepped for the next day.
Thankfully Christmas morning didn't start too early, in fact I was awake at 8am waiting for the rest of the house to stir. We were joined by our two guests at 10am. Along with my parents and the three children they all headed off on the Christmas morning golden mile walk for charity.
About us
This is my first time writing a blog, but after being a host family for 7 years, and all the great people we've met I thought it'd be good to keep a record of it.
We fell into this by accident when DH came home one night from work & had met someone who worked for a language school, so we thought why not!
We were a family of three and I liked to think that we had a lot to offer to people coming to spend time in Ireland. And so our journey began..........
We are now a family of five and can welcome/host up to nine "students" at a time between the two houses. It makes for a hectic life but enjoyable and you can be sure thee is never a dull moment?
We fell into this by accident when DH came home one night from work & had met someone who worked for a language school, so we thought why not!
We were a family of three and I liked to think that we had a lot to offer to people coming to spend time in Ireland. And so our journey began..........
We are now a family of five and can welcome/host up to nine "students" at a time between the two houses. It makes for a hectic life but enjoyable and you can be sure thee is never a dull moment?
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