Short term individual programs
Individual short term placement programs
1. Individual Homestay Immersion: In homestay programs, participants ranging in age from 15 to 30 live with American host families as family members. They normally stay for a period of 2 to 4 weeks and they expect to be involved in daily family activities and household chores. The most important aspect of all homestays is the cross-cultural family relationship. These foreign ambassadors want to share their culture and traditions while living in a typical American family.
The main goals of homestays are language improvement/acquisition and cultural exchange. Our homestay programs are not a tourism service, and participants must understand that activities will not be provided on a daily basis. American families usually are not involved in extracurricular activities outside work and school during the week. Weekends are the time that host families will engage in those kinds of activities. However, it is common for the Exchange Program Coordinator (EPC) to organize one full day activity during the week, such as a visit to a theme park (e.g., Disneyland, Universal Studios), movies, shopping etc. While these activities are not guaranteed, most EPCs are sensitive to the participant’s desires to do some sightseeing. Participants will be responsible for any entry fees or expenses for any activity/entry fee in which they choose to participate.
It is also very important that participants understand that most homestays are not located in large cities, but rather in suburban areas, usually within an hour or two from large cities.
2. Individual Farmstay/Ranchstay/Equestrian Center: American farmers and ranchers who wish to open their homes to international visitors may choose to participate as a host family. The primary difference between a homestay and a farm/equestrian center stay is that being a member of a farm or equestrian center family usually includes doing farm or equestrian center chores daily. Participants may be placed in a nearby home and travel to the farm or ranch/equestrian center every day.
