A caring, warm and supportive home
We all want a nice place to live. A student coming from another country needs a place that they can call "home away from home", while a host is sharing their own house to a stranger who they hope will become a friend and part of the family. Both want to gain from sharing time and activities together.
The standard quality of New Hampshire homes is amongst the best in the United States and certainly is in the top 10% of housing within the world. Each student has their own room with bed, storage and study space. Access to the internet is available in the room.
Our homestay homes provide comfort and security. The host families are checked for suitability, capability and integrity to ensure that they are able to care for teenagers visiting from overseas.
What is "Homestay"?
Homestay is a term used to describe full board accommodation offered by a family, a couple or a single person for which a set weekly fee is charged. This fee covers all expenses associated with providing food and shelter to an international student. This includes providing:
- A single room for the student’s use
- Three meals a day, seven days a week
- Facilities – a bed, wardrobe, towels and linen
- Utilities – gas, electricity, heating and water costs
- Cleaning services of common living areas
- Use of living areas within residence
- Study facilities – desk, study light, bookcase.
Why become a Homestay Host?
There are perhaps three main reasons why a family might wish to become a Homestay Host:
- to help students, to exchange culture and to gain an understanding of the world;
- to supplement income;
- to reciprocate the experience shared by a family member who spent time as a student in a foreign country.
Most often it is a mixture of the first two reasons.
Selection
We unreservedly retain the right to accept or reject any Homestay Host Family Application based upon our perceptions and definition of the 'right fit' for each international student and to ensure maximum safety at all times.
The 'right fit' may be based upon age, gender, academic interests, and co-curricular interests, among other factors, of the international student and host family student(s). Homestay Host Families must have a child attending Bow High School. Special exceptions to this criteria will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Criminal Background Check
Please note that Homestay Host Family parents and adults residing in the home over 18 years of age will be required to submit a criminal background check through the NH State Police Criminal Records Division.