How to be the Best Host Family

• Have a list of family information available upon arrival.

  • This list should include your address and phone numbers, family rules, your family schedule, wifi passwords, and important emergency phone numbers.

• Have a gift basket of American snacks when the student first arrives.

  • The Dollar Tree has a variety of snacks for the student to experience. This is an nice experience for the international student to try different foods.

  • Salt and sugar in American food is more intense than foreign countries. As a traveler, the body takes time to adjust to the meal routine and the time zone. Hunger comes at odd times and having a stash of snacks upon arrival is helpful to the students.

• Check in with your student daily and promote a conversation that is centered about them.

  • If your student is language limited, you can ask them to tell you three good things and one bad thing that happened that day. We found dinner time as the best time to do this with all of the family members. Keep repeating this routine. Over time, they will mentally prepare for this during their day.

• Take your student to a store that is native to their country, one time a month.

  • If it is possible to take them to a store that is native to their country, it will give them a natural lift in their spirits. For celebratory moments, it is great to take them to eat authentic food together. Have a genuine curiosity for their favorite snacks and foods. You will be amazed at the joy they will have when they sense you want to learn about their culture.

• Do not overly correct their English unless they ask you to.

  • It’s best to focus on a strong relationship more so than the academic part of their life. You can ask if they need help with their homework. Depending on the nature of the relationship, a tutor may be a better solution.

• Food

  • The biggest complaint about host families is not having enough food to eat. Generally it is not true. The problem is how the students mentally see the food that is available. For example, bread is a staple in America, rice is a staple in Korea. Sometimes the stomach does not feel full due to the type of food that is available.

  • When hosting an Asian student, they love meat and rice with side dishes. Having a few sauces to add to the American meal like gochujang or native style ramen (not the Cup O Soup brand) helps give the students a good feeling.

  • They eat more than us. Why? Their bodies are used to walking more steps per day due to a subway, school campuses, many stairs etc. During the first few weeks their body is adjusting to the new lifestyle. They may be hungrier than your own family members.

  • It is helpful for international students to know that American host families who have children in school often make their lunch from the left overs from dinner the night before. Rationing dinner portions will be a new concept to them as most foreign schools have excellent lunches prepared at school.

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• FOR HOST FAMILIES HOSTING A KOREAN STUDENT, HERE IS A LIST OF PORTLAND, OREGON AREA SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS.

  • H Mart Grocery Store - 13600 SW Pacific Hwy, Tigard, OR 97223

  • G Market Grocery Store - 3975 SW 114th Ave, Beaverton, OR 97005

  • Boo Han Grocery Store - 1313 SE 82nd Ave, Portland, OR 97216

  • Nak Won Korean Restaurant - 4600 SW Watson Ave, Beaverton, OR 97005

  • K Town Korean BBQ Restaurant - 4570 SW Lombard Ave, Beaverton, OR 97005

  • Chungdam Korean Fusion Restaurant - 7901 SE Powell Blvd Suite# A1, Portland, OR 97206

• ASIAN FOOD FINDS

  • Costco: Bibigo Beef Bulgogi Mandu Dumplings

  • Costco: Homai Calrose Rice

  • Costco: Nongshim Shin Noodle Soup Spicy