By Josephine K., guest blogger studying Korean in Seoul
When I was first applying for my AmeriSpan program I wasn't sure if I wanted just the lodging house or a host family. After talking with one of the representatives from the "Live Help Chat" on the AmeriSpan website they explained that I would be getting more practice if I was with a host family. I was also apprehensive because I don't know any Korean and I would be going to the country with no language abilities except for English. I asked if that would be a problem and the representative said that it wouldn't be an issue and I would benefit the most because I would be engulfed in the culture and language. With the reassurance from AmeriSpan I decided to go for it, and boy am I glad I did!
5) Having a Family Away From Home
The host family I'm staying with is household consisting of a grandmother, mother, (mother's) brother, and a baby. It is a comfort to come back from school, or from exploring Seoul, to see the hustle and bustle of normal family life. Everyone is so welcoming and happy to see you that very quickly you start to feel like part of the family.
4) The Other House Guests
I am not the only student staying with my host family. There are three other students who are attending the school where my Korean classes are held. We each have our own room and live on the second floor while the family lives on the first. It's nice to have others in the same program because we walk to school together as well as go out in the evenings just to walk around Seoul as tourists. It also helps in studying because we are at different levels in our classes. During meals sometimes we will help each other explain the homework or even practice for an upcoming quiz or test.
3) The Rooms
In my room there is a bed, desk, free-standing closet, and 2 built in closets. There is plenty of space to call my own for the summer. I also have internet and a television with cable.
2) To Come and Go as I Please
Each of us staying at the house have our own set of keys that get us into the front gate, house door, as well as our individual rooms. We are allowed to go and come back at any time which is nice when you want to discover the night life of Seoul without waking anyone up upon your return.
1) Home-Cooked Meals
Everyday, including weekends, we get breakfast and dinner at the house. It is cooked by our host mom and normally Korean food. This gives us the opportunity to have real Korean food without going out to a restaurant everyday. If for some reason we are going to miss breakfast or dinner all we have to do is tell our host mom so she doesn't make extra portions. However, nothing beats eating together at the house where we are able to enjoy good food with good conversations.
AmeriSpan note: Homestay in Korea is no longer available. Please feel free to contact our office with any questions or updates regarding your options.
For more information, go to AmeriSpan's Korean school in Seoul
Read all of Josephine's blogs from Seoul Korea.
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