One of our Japanese students, Sayo Fujimoto, shared some of her homestay experiences with us. Her first impression was very positive. She said, “When I first arrived in Kelowna; Rachel, my homestay mother, had a big smile and gave me hugs, she repeated my name many times, showed me her home, and explained the house rules”. She elaborated that her homestay mother drove her to VanWest College on Saturday to show her the school so she wouldn’t get lost on Monday. Rachel took the opportunity to show Sayo the supermarket, City Park, the downtown area, and explained how to walk back home.

[su_heading size=”17″]Our Kelowna homestay families are either located within walking distance from VanWest or near a bus stop. On average, it takes under 30 minutes to get to school.[/su_heading]

Sayo told us that she has decided to walk to and from school every day because it only takes 20 minutes, it gives her the opportunity to appreciate the beautiful Kelowna landscape, and she gets her daily exercise.

[su_heading size=”17″]What makes homestay families even more special is that they make students feel like they are part of the family.[/su_heading]

They include students on their daily plans and family activities. During the Thanksgiving weekend, Sayo’s homestay family took her to visit farms and orchards in Kelowna, and in a nearby city called Peachland. For Christmas, the family got together and they all had a classic turkey dinner. Sayo mentioned that she has dinner with the family every day. Rachel and Clair’s daughter often spends time at their home when she visits from West Kelowna. This is a good opportunity for Sayo to socialize with other members of the family and practice her English skills.

At the end of our conversation, Sayo highlighted that staying in a homestay family makes her feel safe and supported. They constantly help her to improve her English skills and are always open to answer any questions she might have.

VanWest College thoroughly evaluates and carefully selects homestay families to ensure students have a safe and comfortable environment to fully benefit from their Canadian Experience!