Fortunately, you do have one good solution to minimize spending. What's more, you can meet more friends and learn more about the culture of the nation's people. You can look for students host families.
What are students host families?
Students host families are those that provide shelter for those students who decide to study in another country. The family usually belongs into a program that is sponsored by a college or university, such as the student host family program of the United Kingdom. International and exchange students will be assigned to the most ideal host family.
However, you may also find certain host families who don't belong any type of organization or program. They simply open their doors to any student who wants to learn more about the country where they are going to spend several years with by immersing himself or herself into a native family.
When you live with a host family, you should keep in mind that you're not a transient or a lodger who can go in and out of the house unnoticed. You will be living with the spouse and the children. You may also have to join them in their meals, make use of whatever appliance and furniture they have, and participate in other family activities.
What are the reasons of staying with students host families?
Before you even decide to stay in the dormitory, apartment, or any other dwelling in another country, you may want to consider finding yourself students host families first. This way, you can enjoy the following benefits:
1. You will have an instant friend. If you haven't tried living in another country, you must know that you would be battling one of the biggest emotional blackmails: homesickness. Unless you're traveling with a group, there's a good chance that you won't have any friend. In fact, there may even be a possibility that your current pals will find their own group, and you would spend less time together. When you live in students host families, you get instant “relatives” even if you're far away from home. Students host families are very well-known of treating their guests as part of their family. Besides, wouldn't it be nice to end the day with a home-cooked meal?
2. You have a much decent place to live in. Unless you have a lot of money to spend while you're abroad, you will be forced to live within your means. This may entail living in a very cramped apartment. Going for something bigger will definitely jeopardize your other education expenses. If you want to seek a more spacious space, you know that you have to work hard for it.
Students host families don't only have decent houses, but they also have almost complete amenities, which you can use normally for free. You will find that virtually all of the families have at least one television set. Moreover, they have cars, personal computers, Internet connection, video recorder, DVD player, and huge lawns. You can also save your money since your accommodation expense will already include 3 meals, with packed lunch, storage space, and bed.
3. You're very close to a lot of places. Another good thing about staying in students host families is that everything appears to be within reach. Most of their houses are located near the schools, health care facilities, business districts, and shopping areas. You can easily roam around and take a good look of the country you are in. In fact, you may even be invited to join in their out-of-town trips. Of course, you may have to contribute a little amount for it.
4. You can fully understand the ways of the country's people. Perhaps one of the most fascinating things that you'll ever experience when you decide to study in another country is its culture. You know that it's completely different from yours, and yet you will find some of them interesting. You get to appreciate the country you're in and its people. The best place to experience culture is actually in the home. This is because families are expected to maintain certain traditions and rituals. You will definitely get to go through them when you live in students host families.
How do you look for students host families?
It may take a while before you can find the right students host families for you. However, you can make things a lot easier by following these tips:
1. Ask the school or the university first. You can ask the college or university if they have an existing students host families program that you can join in. There will be certain requirements that you have to meet before you can be accepted, so you have to know and comply them. Sometimes the educational institution itself will be the one who's going to assign you to a family.
2. Check the Internet. If the educational institution doesn't have one, then you can proceed to check the World Wide Web for certain students host families. Start with the organizations. This is important since you are already assured of the personalities of the family who's going to “adopt” you once you already move in to their country.
3. Get recommendations from friends. If you already have friends or know someone who's already in the country, you can ask for recommendations or referrals. You may no longer be allowed in the home of his or her students host family, but he or she can definitely assist you in finding one.