January 4, 2017 - 4:15pm
By Jenn McGarrigle
Every year, hundreds of Nanaimo families host an international student or two through Vancouver Island University’s Homestay program. The program immerses students in local culture, and in return, host families are exposed to other cultures, customs and perspectives. Here’s a glimpse of what happens at the homes of three different host families.
Jacinthe Laramee
Everything about Jacinthe Laramee’s house, from the spotless, tastefully decorated rooms that look like they belong in a House & Home photo shoot, to the mouthwatering smells coming from her kitchen, give the impression that you have just stepped into a high-class bed and breakfast operation.
But her guests aren’t tourists – they are students in VIU’s Homestay program. Mayuko Kishida, 19, from Nara, Japan, is taking ESL and Hospitality and Tourism classes, and Austina Xiaoting, 21, from Shandong Province in China, is finishing her accounting degree.
Jacinthe fills plates with scrambled eggs, spinach-stuffed sausage, homemade hash browns and rustic bread. As they dig in, Mayuko and Austina, who were all smiles when they greeted me at the door but very quiet at first, start to open up about life in Jacinthe’s home.
“When I come home, there’s hot food on the table and somebody waiting for you,” says Austina. “We are a family here. What’s nice about homestay is that you learn the culture and you feel safe – you know there’s someone there to help you if you get in trouble.”
“[Jacinthe] has a lot of life experiences that she’s shared with me, which has helped me adjust to life here,” adds Mayuko. “She’s helped me find new things I want to try, both in Canada and Japan.”
Jacinthe says she gets just as much out of the arrangement as the students. She learns about and experiences other cultures, and appreciates the conversations that develop around the dinner table.
“We share a lot, we always have something to talk about,” says Jacinthe, who has been hosting students for five years, many of whom she still keeps in touch with. “It enriches your life. It’s hard when they leave, because a bond develops.”
The Ashtons
Miranda Ashton likes learning about other cultures, as does her husband, Ryan, and her three children – Luke, Carter and Vaughn.
“I want my kids to be confident and accept all cultures,” says Miranda. “We always love it when our students first get here – that’s when they share so much of their culture because they don’t have anything else to share yet. I also like advocating about Canada and showcasing our community.”
Jack Wang, 16, from Beijing, who is studying at VIU’s High School, and Atsushi Yamanaka, 19, an ESL student from Tokyo, Japan, are enjoying the learning opportunities that come when living with a Canadian family.
“Miranda makes us speak English when we are home, which helps us learn,” says Atsushi.
Wang, an only child, is also experiencing life with brothers for the first time. “It’s an important experience in my life,” he says. “I’m not used to getting asked so many questions!”
Miranda says the whole family often has long discussions about the different views cultures have on various subjects. “We’ve had a few funny things happen, too,” she adds. “One time, one of our students threw away an entire case of blueberry waffles because he thought they were mouldy!”
The Mwilas
Hyacinth and Victor Mwila, originally from Jamaica and Zambia, and their 16-year-old son Philip, who was born in Canada, were surprised to discover many similarities between the cultures in their home countries and their students’ way of doing things.
“I have learned a lot from my Chinese students,” says Hyacinth. “The culture is so similar to what I grew up with in the Caribbean. We figure everything out at the dinner table.”
Hyacinth has learned how to use chopsticks properly, and she teaches students about Western eating habits – for example, how slurping soup is considered rude here. Both Charlie Xu, 18, from Rizhao, China, and Satoshi Kanomata, 20, from Saitama, Japan, have found Canadian culture easier to navigate with the help of the Mwilas.
“We talk lots about the life and culture every day when we have dinner, it’s been really helpful,” says Charlie.
Homestay Opportunities
Every year, between 750 and 1,100 new students from more than 85 different countries around the world are placed with Nanaimo families. Andrea Blakeman, Housing Manager, calls Homestay “an adventure.”
“You have a lot of, ‘Wow, I never thought about doing it that way’ moments,” she says. “You learn a lot from each other, and often build lasting friendships.”
Sidebar: Is Homestay for You?
JOINING VIU’S HOMESTAY PROGRAM MAY BE RIGHT FOR YOU IF YOU:
- Are willing to spend time with the students and include them in family activities.
- Are located in the central Nanaimo area within three blocks of a frequently used bus stop and not more than 45 minutes travel time by public transit to VIU.
- Speak English as the primary language in the home and are willing to speak only English when hosting students.
- Can provide a Criminal Record Check to host minors and vulnerable people, for everyone living in your home who is aged 18 and older, every three years.
- Are able and willing to consider hosting both males and females.
For more details, visit international.viu.ca/homestay.
*This article originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2016 issue of VIU Magazine. Check out more stories from the latest issue of VIU Magazine here.
Tags: VIU Magazine
