Showing appreciation for your host family H
ost families are people who have generously offered to open their house and life to young people from another country. It is important to be polite and respectful of both the family members and their belongings.
Being polite means to thank your host family when they do something for you, such as preparing dinner, giving you a ride to school or helping you to solve some problems. To show your appreciation, every once in a while do something extra special for your host family like cooking a typical or special, planning a family outing, inviting them to a school event or buying or making something meaningful. It may be a nice to give your host family a gift. Choosing the best time to do this can differ depending on your situation. You might think that it is a good idea to give a typical present from your country at the beginning of your stay. Sometimes you will feel that it is more meaningful to give it at the end of your stay. Or you can choose a special moment that may have a lot of meaning for you or your host family. Your new friends can help you learn what is appropriate.
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It is useful to bring with you several small gifts. You will then be prepared for unexpected situations like meeting new people or a birthday that you were not prepared for.
he gift you give should not be too large or expensive. The best present is something that you know your host family will enjoy and shows appreciation for everything they have done for you. Or it can be something typical from your country. Or, it could be something personal that explains to them your personality and values, like a collection of things you liked about the host country. There are other ways to show appreciation to your host family: writing a letter or postcard, cleaning the house, saying “I like what you did for me�, sending an e-mail or text saying you are thankful that they are your host family. 58
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