Students under 18 years of age coming to study in NZ have accommodation arranged with New Zealand families - called a homestay.
Students are placed with a family matched as closely as possible to the requirements on the application form which students sent Wellington High School.
Living with a New Zealand family helps students learn about the New Zealand way of life and improve their English language.
Host families make students welcome and, when they first arrive, help students to find their way around the city and to Wellington High School.
Students find that there are differences between life and customs in thier home country and those in New Zealand. Because students are coming to live in New Zealand, they need to be prepared to make some changes so that they can live happily here.
Homestays are usually within a 20 minute bus ride to school.
Students have their own room and the host family will make students feel part of their family. They will provide three meals a day. A cooked dinner in the evening and will make sure that food is available for breakfast. In many New Zealand families, breakfast consists of toast or cereal which people prepare for themselves. Lunch is sandwiches and fruit or some suitable alternative. If students have any strong likes or dislikes the host family should be aware of them from the information given on the homestay application.
Most New Zealand households have pets, usually a cat and often a dog. Pets are frequently allowed inside the house.
Some helpful hints:
Basic Courtesies
In all New Zealand families, it is expected that when students are going out, they tell the family
· where they are going
· with whom they are going
· what time they expect to be home
This is important because it is polite and because of safety in case of an accident.
Dinner times are fixed. If students are not going to be in for dinner, they must tell their homestay family in the morning or on the day before. Students are usually expected to be home for dinner and home in the evenings during the school week. Remembering, they are in this country to study and to improve your English language.
Smoking
If students smoke before they come to New Zealand they need to know. Wellington High School is a smoke free campus and most New Zealand homes are non-smoking. If students smoke they will need to go outside.
Telephone
In most families, telephone calls should not be made before 8.00 in the morning or after 9.00 in the evening. Students should advise friends not to call outside these times.
The time spent on the telephone and the number of calls made and received should be limited to what is acceptable to the host family. Remember that there are other members of the family who also need to use the telephone.
Students must discuss arrangements for making international calls when you arrive. The most satisfactory arrangement is to make collect calls. New Zealand homes pay telephone accounts each month and students must make sure any international or toll calls are paid for on time. Calling cards are the cheapest option.
Use of bathroom, shower, toilet
Many New Zealand homes have only one bathroom. Students must consider other family members and not stay in the bathroom too long (15 minutes). They should also make sure that the bathroom is left clean and tidy after use.
In New Zealand, hot water is expensive and the supply in the house is limited. Students should not shower for more than 5 minutes. As New Zealand is not a hot country, it should not be necessary to shower more than once or twice a day.
Use of Electrical Appliances
These include lights, heaters, electric blankets, stereo, TV, radios, cookers. All appliances are 230/240 volts and students will need adaptors for their own appliances.
Because of the fire danger and the expense of electricity, these items need to be used with care and respect. All electrical appliances must be turned off when students are not in the room where they are being used.
Household Chores
Very few New Zealand families have servants or cleaners and most New Zealand women work outside the home. As a result, everyday household chores are shared among family members.
Students may be expected to keep their own room clean and tidy, to help clear away and wash the dishes after a meal and to do personallight washing and ironing. As students are part of a family, they will need to share in keeping the house clean and tidy.
Problems
Misunderstandings can occur because of differences in language and customs. If students are unhappy about anything, they must talk first with the homestay family as soon as the problem occurs. If the issue cannot be resolved talk to the Dean or one of the school counsellors.
Holidays
If students go away from the homestay during the school holidays, for a week or more, the homestay family must be told in advance. The Homestay Co-ordinator can arrange a reduction in homestay payments for the time students are away. Generally half is paid.