The Wooster School and its partner organization, gphomestay, will soon be preparing for the arrival of 11 new Chinese students to arrive in Danbury, bringing with them a diverse culture and new perspective to the community. This past academic year, the school had 11 international students, which will make for a total of 22 students this coming fall! These students have chosen the Wooster School because of the meaningful educational experience they will receive and the community that helps support it.
International students have many choices in what type of program they choose. The students attending Wooster want an experience that includes living with an American host family. Living in a homestay offers an amazing window into American life, and allows the students to fully immerse themselves into our culture.
This is where we need your help. Through our partnership with the Wooster School, gphomestay is currently looking for nurturing, qualified host families for the fall 2015 semester for the incoming international students. Hosting a student is truly a life-changing experience. Your family will get to experience a new culture in your own home, while helping an international student adjust to life in America.
“When [our students] Cynthia and Angel arrived, they were a little shy and apprehensive about living with our typical busy American family. We embraced them and all that they could share with us about their culture and their lives in China,” says Paulette Brassinga, a Wooster host parent. “They felt welcomed into our family, adapted to our routines, our foods, our hobbies, sports, and holidays as we learned more about them and discussed the differences and similarities of our two countries over meals.”
All of the students at The Wooster School this year were on the honor roll, and actively involved in student life. Some of their extra-curricular activities included volleyball, soccer, basketball, arts, photography, and tennis. They also got involved in student council, and plan to attend college here in the States.
“It was surprising to know that Chinese teenagers are very similar to American teenagers and love to keep in touch with their friends by texting or over ‘We Chat’ and they enjoy watching movies,” Brassinga says. “Some of our most memorable times together were bike riding, going apple picking, dressing up for Halloween, and cooking together. They baked their first apple pies, helped to prepare our Thanksgiving meal, and took part in sharing what each one of us was thankful for this year.
Brassinga continued by saying that she and her family “have been blessed for the opportunity to open our home and enrich our lives with these wonderful students and share our values, traditions, and culture with them in return. We are looking forward to another year!”
We ask that our host families provide three meals per day, a private bedroom, and transportation to and from school. In addition to taking part in a life-changing experience and having the opportunity to guide a young international student, families will be provided with a $1,200 monthly stipend to offset the cost of the student living in the home. Families also have access to ongoing local support from gphomestay’s residential staff, who can assist with your student’s arrival process, help mediate any issues that may arise, and also plan fun events throughout the school year for you and the student. Students arrive with their own insurance and spending money.
Our students typically stay for the full academic year. They study here with the intent of graduating from an American high school and moving on to study at an American college or university. We prefer our host families to host a student for the school year (10 months) but short-term or semester-long opportunities are available.
We also offer a $300 referral bonus for any approved host family that lists your name as their source of referral on their application! This applies for any host that you refer, anywhere in the U.S. You can begin the process of becoming a host by completing our online inquiry form at www.gphomestay.com. For more information, please contact us at info@gphomestay.com or (781)996-0429.
Join the gphomestay family and open your window to the world by hosting an international student!
Gphomestay is a leader in the educational service industry and specializes in bringing support to international student programs at over 200 U.S. high schools across the country. Our trained staff is committed to the success of each student by arranging and overseeing safe residential accommodations that enhance the students’ overall American experiences. Please visit our website at www.gphomestay.com.
