Open yourself up to the homestay experience and bring the world to your family.
Every year, thousands of students from around the world come to Canada, Australia, the U.K., and the U.S. for an immersive, educational experience. Helping them to get the most of their overseas adventure are the homestay families who open their hearts and homes to these students. But beyond the usual tips on meal preparation and culture shock, what does it take to have success as a homestay family? If you’re ready to ask deeper questions, this collection of stories and guidance has your answers.
In The Heart of Homestay, Jennifer Robin Wilson draws on her two decades of experience working in the homestay industry to provide an honest and comprehensive portrayal of the homestay experience. By sharing real stories from a vast network of homestay families, Wilson shows the benefits of bringing an international student into your home while also being real about the challenges that can arise. From first impressions and settling in to navigating cultural differences with compassion, communicating through language barriers, and what to do when it's time to say goodbye, Wilson guides you through countless scenarios to bring you closer to the experience.
No matter what stage of the homestay journey you are in, this book is a resource you will return to again and again. And you’ll learn that while there is a lot to consider when choosing to open your home to a stranger, once you do, your family will grow further abroad than you ever imagined.

Jennifer Robin Wilson's profile page

Jennifer Robin Wilson is the board chair of Canada Homestay Network, her family's business. She joined CHN in 2005 and served as CEO from 2010 to 2022. She is also a writer, consultant, certified leadership coach, and facilitator. Prior to working at CHN, Wilson practiced as a registered midwife in Manitoba and British Columbia. She holds an MBA and an MFA in creative nonfiction. She has two adult children and lives with her husband on the unceded traditional territory of the Lkwungen (Lekwungen) peoples, knowntoday as the Songhees, Esquimalt, andWSÁNEĆ First Nations, in Victoria, BC.

"An insightful and heartfelt guide. Through a collection of real-life stories, Jennifer Robin Wilson highlights the joys and challenges that culture and personality bring to homestay relationships. Her examples provide valuable lessons on cultural understanding, setting boundaries, and, above all, treating students like family. This book is an essential resource for anyone looking to create meaningful and lasting connections."

director of international student programs at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board

"Jennifer Robin Wilson has organized a wealth of experience to provide a comprehensive analysis of hosting international students. With unvarnished insights and practical advice drawn from compelling case studies and research, The Heart of Homestay is a must-read for all homestay stakeholders. This book is a timely reminder that a central value of international education is to bring people from different cultures together to combat prejudice."

author of Easier Said Than Done and founding director of Global Village Calgary

"A comprehensive guide to the homestay experience, brimming with honesty, compassion, and plenty of easy-to-follow strategies"

Kirkus Reviews

"In The Heart of Homestay, Jennifer Robin Wilson captures the essence of the homestay experience: a unique opportunity for families and students to engage in the diplomacy of knowledge. Through precise research, balanced reporting, and beautiful storytelling, Wilson inspires readers to think more broadly about what it means to be a global citizen and how to engage in cross-cultural understanding. This book gave me hope for a better world—one built on curiosity, kindness, and respect for human diversity and dignity."

C.C., 28th Governor General of Canada (2010–2017)

"As a four-time study abroad student to Switzerland, Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil in my teens and early twenties, I can attest to the critical role host families play in exchange success. The Heart of Homestay will ensure that both host families and visiting students get the most of what is a life- and family-changing adventure. I recommend it for every host family!"

author of Body of Work and The Widest Net

"Connections between communities and countries are built through people-to-people exchanges across kitchen tables, not by politicians. When we listen to different cultures, histories, and points of view, we create the ties that build coherence and tolerance in communities to tackle the most critical challenges. This book is a road map to a better future."

award-winning author of How to Listen, Deep Listening, and Breakthroughs

"The Heart of Homestay is an excellent read that gets to the heart of the benefits and challenges of living in a culturally diverse home. Homestay organizations will benefit from making this essential resource available to all their host families."

founder and director of the Australian Homestay Network

"The Heart of Homestay is an essential guide for both veteran hosts and fresh faces. It is a celebration of the deep, meaningful connections that come from embracing cultural diversity, and a heartwarming reminder that hosting is a thrilling journey of growth, discovery, and shared experiences."

CEO of StudentRoomStay and Melt Education

"The Heart of Homestay is relatable, insightful, and heartwarming, and it gave me goosebumps! It provides hosts with the tools to create and nurture healthy, optimal homestay relationships. Profound experiences and lifelong connections lie ahead for those willing to embrace the uncomfortable—to be open, trusting, and curious—and to grow!"

executive director of the Canadian Association of Public Schools–International

"Jennifer Robin Wilson’s The Heart of Homestay doesn’t just open your eyes—it touches your heart. This is a beautiful, inspirational book about the power of human connection, as told through the experience of homestay families and international students. Wilson’s understanding of cross-cultural competency is nuanced and deep, making this a great guide for how to live and work with anyone—whether or not they are visitors from another country."

award-winning psychologist, NYU professor, and author of The Person You Mean to Be and A More Just Future