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, known today as the Songhees, Esquimalt, and WSÁNEĆ First Nations, in Victoria, BC.