ACCOMMODATIONS Each student’s room should be a private room large enough according to city by-laws to be considered a bedroom with a fire alarm and a window fire exit. The room should include a bed with bedding (mattress on the floor or bunk bed is not acceptable), a dresser, desk, chair, desk lamp, wastebasket, and closet. The student must have access to bathroom facilities, other common areas in the house and laundry facilities

MEALS Host families are expected to provide 3 meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). On weekends meals are flexible to both parties. Below are some examples for each of the meals:

• Breakfast: a common Canadian breakfast often consists of some of the following: coffee, milk, juice, cereal, toast, bacon, eggs, or pancakes.
• Lunch: On school days, the host family will provide a "bagged lunch". A typical bagged lunch includes a sandwich with meat, fruit, muffin or cookies and a drink. Many students like to prepare their own lunches, please ask them if they would prefer. Leftovers can make an enjoyable lunch if available.
• Dinner: A dinner should have a main course, at least one type of vegetable, and either rice, potatoes, or pasta. The main course should have one type of meat at least four nights a week. An evening meal must be prepared and left if the family is not home or if the student will be late coming home from school.

EXPECTATIONS OF HOMESTAY PARENTS

• Provide each student with a key into the house.
• Only English is spoken when the student is present.
• Include the student in all family activities.
• Help student to adjust to the Canadian lifestyle and explain the customs in your home.
• Help with bus routes, library cards, Medicare, etc.
• Help the student make appointments to see a medical doctor and dentist. Assist in transportation if needed. Appointments should be scheduled after school if possible.
• Inform the student when you will be away for a meal.
• Provide appropriate supervision for the student.
• Treat the student with respect and tolerance.
• Ensure that the student is not required to baby-sit.
• Contact the Homestay Coordinator if difficulties arise.
• Meet with the Coordinator and student to work towards resolving problem issues.
• Upon accepting the student, inform the coordinator of any plans to be away from the home during the student’s homestay period.

NOTICING CHANGES IN THE STUDENT
The Homestay Coordinator must be notified if the student is showing difficulty with school courses, changes in sleeping patterns, eating habits or any out of the ordinary behavior.

MONITORING
Some schools will have a set of rules that they would like the students to follow. Homestay families work closely with Liane’s Vancouver Homestay and the school on monitoring curricular and outside school activities for younger students.

HOMESTAY COURTESIES
These are based on past experiences and are intended as suggestions only. Please inform the student of these things in the first few days with you: family routines, where snacks are kept, where things are in the kitchen, the do’s and don’ts with your personal things. Students should be encouraged to speak English at all times while in the home. Arrangement for use of the phone should be discussed in advance; phone cards should be used for all long distance calls. We suggest that long term students get their own phone installed at their expense. Please cover the do’s and don’ts of smoking in Canada.

HOUSE RULES
We recommend that house rules be written clearly and made available to the student in order to ensure a mutual understanding of meal times, laundry schedules, deadline times for incoming phone calls in the evening, time limits for bathroom use, etc. Please keep in mind that the first day they arrive all these rules can be overwhelming. Also some students are teenagers and that rules are hard for any teenager to follow.

ENVIRONMENT
All families are expected to provide a welcoming and secure environment. The Homestay Coordinator has a right to move a student immediately and the Homestay Coordinator reserves the right to terminate the family’s participation in the program.

CHANGING FAMILIES
It is preferable that no student moves during the school term. However, if either the student or the homestay host feels it is necessary to change homestays, the matter must be referred to the Homestay Coordinator. In the sole opinion of the Homestay Coordinator, if concerns cannot be resolved, the student will be placed in a different homestay immediately with no advance notice or obligation. Removal will result in the immediate termination of this agreement and any obligation of the Homestay Services to make payments to the Host Family.

LENGTH OF HOMESTAY
When a student is placed in your home, we will try to give you a general time line of their stay. Please know that students change their minds at very short notice and some of them will extend their stay, and some of them will move out to their own accommodations earlier than expected. We recommend you keep good communication with your student(s).

HOLIDAYS
If the family takes a holiday during the school year that the student is included in (Christmas, Spring Break, etc.) the student would be responsible for travel and personal expenses while the host family pays for accommodations and food. If the student does not choose to accompany the family on such holidays, a temporary homestay arrangement must be made that is approved by the Homestay Coordinator. A payment determined by a per-day rate must be paid to the temporary homestay. If the student takes a holiday, the host family’s remuneration will only be adjusted if they are gone for more than 15 days, the deduction will be calculated per day. Adjustments can be deducted the month of the student’s absence. While the student is away, some students may leave their belongings behind. Because there is no food consumptions, or supervision of the student required, a maximum of half the rate can be charged to the student for holding the room and storing their belongings.