Host families are families that invite a student from another country into their home for a certain amount of time. This gives the student the opportunity to indulge themselves in that culture and share their own way of living too. Being hosted is affordable (usually free) and gives you a home and face of that country.

Throughout my travels with an organization called “Up with People”, I stayed with over 35 different host families! I can not explain to you how much of a learning experience that this was for me. My eyes were opened to sights I have never seen, foods that I have never tasted, and languages I have never heard before!

Read about When I Traveled With 100 People From 20 Different Countries

Truthfully, I think I gained more knowledge traveling for a year than in all four years of high school (and the host families had a lot to do with this)! Each family that hosted me taught me one thing or another that opened my eyes to things I wouldn’t see or learn in school.

My Experience With Up With People

UWP is a non-profit educational organization that I traveled with from July 2016-July 2017! It is a group filled with 100 people from 20 different countries with a mission to spread a message of hope around the world. Throughout my travels, I volunteered, performed, and stayed with host families!

When I was younger, never did I think that I would stay and sleep in a strangers house on the other side of the world. But hey, just last year I turned 18 and I did it! They might have been strangers at the time, but after being hosted by them, they became family. Now, I can say that I have families all over the world!

U.S. Host Families

Throughout the tour in the United States, I stayed with about 20 different host families. Each of them left me with memories that couldn’t have been created if I stayed in a hotel!

For a week, I got to stay with a Mormon family which taught me a lot about the Mormon religion and how they live. And in Montana, I lived on a ranch, taking care of farm animals and I even got to drive a tractor, which I haven’t ever got the chance to do before!

Mexican Host Families

I was only in Mexico for a month out of the year of traveling, but I still was hosted by three different host families. Each time that I visited Mexico prior to joining UWP, I was always* staying in resorts along the coast and in the touristy parts of the country. Being hosted in Mexico City was a completely different scene of the country than what I was used to.

While I was visiting, it was the celebration of the “Day of the Dead” (known as “Día de Muertos” in Spanish). If I wasn’t staying with a host family for this, the whole celebration would’ve been different.

My host family took me to the secret places downtown that only the locals really know about. They let me gaze around at all the different shops and activities that were offered. And even showed me their traditions that they do for that holiday.

Another thing that I learned was how many tacos Mexicans can eat (I figured alot…but not this much)! There were two times in the month where it was past 2 AM and my host parents still said: “Hey, let’s go get us some tacos al pastor!”. But seriously these tacos are the best…you should try them ;P

European Host Families

In Up With People, I stayed with a little over 10 different European host families. I can’t describe to you the culture shock that I went through when traveling from Mexico to Europe with the cast. It was pretty intense, the countries are so different.

Imagine being in a sauna with your host family in Finland. Your host parents are completely naked and cooking a reindeer inside the sauna…interesting, right? Yeah… I told you, this is a once in a lifetime experience that you can’t get anywhere else! I also enjoyed having “Fika” (coffee and pastry tradition) every single day while I was staying in Sweden.

Celebrating King’s day was a blast when I was in the Netherland’s in April. Since it is one of Holland’s biggest celebrations, I don’t think I would know what to do on my own. But because I was being hosted by locals, they knew exactly where to take me so that I could enjoy this holiday to the most potential. It wasn’t long before I was downtown in “The Hague” at the festival and the nations biggest flea market honoring King Willem-Alexander’s birthday!

If you have the opportunity, take it!

Each host family was different even if they were from the same country or even state! Every family has their own unique style of living. Staying in host families offers you an experience that you cant receive in hotels, resorts, and other accommodation sites.

I was able to take the time and ask about each culture and their traditions. I even got to celebrate them with the families too! While staying in their homes, I also got to try their local food and learn some of their languages, how freaking cool! This was an awesome opportunity that opened my eyes to things that I would never see or learn anywhere else.

Learn How To Successfully Start Traveling On A Budget

Host families are literally the best! If you have the chance to stay with one or two, I suggest taking the offer!

Have you ever stayed with a host family? Or better yet, have you hosted an international student?

I would LOVE to hear about any experiences that you have had in the comments below!(:

Remember... no matter what challenges you face,
Take it 1 Day At A Time.