Last night we did our host family orientation!
Host families are an important part of the first five weeks of the ISDSI semester. Each student is placed with their own family, and it is a great introduction to Thai culture. Later on in the semester, students will be staying with a variety of families, from upland tribal communities to a small Muslim fishing village — so the first five weeks are important to help get students used to living with families from another culture.
Each family has to fill out an application, and be recommended by someone in the ISDSI network — we don’t advertise for families. We do a home visit with each family before the students come, and one visit during the homestay, and one visit after.
Before the students arrive, each student sends us a candid photo with their family in America, as well as a letter for the host families. These are put together into a packet for each host family, along with a guidebook we’ve written on hosting American students. Host family orientation is a great time for the families to share experiences, for us to update them on the latest program policies and schedule, and for families to connect with each other. The orientation is participatory, with returning families sharing experiences and tips on hosting American students, and we usually have a couple former students participate who can explain what it is like from their perspective.
Here are some photos to give you and idea of that host family orientation is like.
Reading about their new host student.
The families get really excited as the student information packets get handed out.
Students send a photo of themeselves with their own families in America.
Even families who've hosted before are excited about getting a new student, and are a great source of information for new families.
Reading the letter to their host familiy from the student.
Part of the fun of host family orientation is seeing who is staying with your friends and neighbors!
The hosts for the orientation -- Pi Pu and Ajaan Wilasanee -- did a great job!
