Cultural Homestay International

I had the most life changing trip to South Korea. I wanted to make sure I truly wanted to study the Asian languages in college and I had a chance to go abroad. At first it was hard to get used to how safe it was and how I could just walk around. I had an amazing experience and I recommend that everyone try to go abroad. My host family was amazing and took care of me very well. Since I am only 18 I worried that it would be hard to travel and it would be very hard for me to take care of myself. They were a little shy at first but they really opened up to me after a while. My host family had three kids and they were all very kind. If anyone is worried about their relationship with a host family, just talk with them. They really are willing to make anything work and help you.

The CHI world explorers program was by far the most flexible abroad program for students that I cam across. Before I left, I received plenty of travel information, tips, and advice in addition to a wealth of English teaching materials. During my stay I was in constant communication with my coordinators. The CHI staff are all extremely friendly and supportive, and are dedicated to ensuring a positive experience. I really enjoyed how flexible the program was. I wanted to improve my speaking abilities and become more fluent in French, and being placed with a host family allowed for a natural exchange of our respective languages. In addition, the structure of the program gave me the time and freedom to explore not only my city (Dunkirk), but also travel to other places in France, and in Europe.

I am so grateful for my experience teaching English in Spain! Chinet placed me with the most incredible host family. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the family and using my free time to take Spanish classes and explore the area. Some of my favorite excursions included bungee jumping, taking day trips with the Spanish school I joined to nearby cities, enjoying the local cuisine, checking out a national park, watching a live futbol match, and watching free live Spanish concerts at a museum. The family I was paired with had two young girls (7 and 10) who I taught English to and I was encouraged to teach them in an informal and fun way, which meant playing lot's of games, going to the library, going for walks, and eating meals together. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better experience - everything was wonderful!

I participated in the World Explorer program this summer through CHI in Beijing, China. I was in Beijing for 33 days and loved every second. I didn't want to leave! My host family was amazing and brought me to the Great Wall of China and the Summer Palace. I also participated in family gatherings and experienced what barbecuing is like in China. I've never eaten so much food at one time!
I met up with two other World Explorers and visited Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, hutongs, and explored many parts of Eastern Beijing. Getting lost was all part of the plan as we met many amazing Chinese families more than willing to help us find our way and showed us to great places for food and drinks. The one thing I miss the most about Beijing is the subway. I never used public transportation until I arrived in Beijing.
As I am back home in the states, I still stay in contact with my host family through WeChat. If everything pans out, I'll be visiting my host family next summer. I cannot wait!

I thoroughly enjoyed this experience because I was able to converse with locals everyday which helped me practise my Spanish which is very useful. I've made some good friends that I could treasure for a long time. I have also made what I'm happy to call a second family. One of the reasons I would recommend this experience is because you can sample some true spanish culture and make good friends for life. Before your experience starts make sure you select a country that you are passionate about and can make the most of. Not only can you meet new friends but you can also spend time away from your parents and you get a feeling of independence that you don't always get when your away with your parents. Its also a great opportunity for seeing a new country and broadening your mind without the pressure of having to go with your parents.