Cultural Expectations with Master Homestay Host Tatiana Robertson
10/14/19 • 55 min
When you decide to host international students in your home, it's not an easy decision, especially if this is your first time. And even if you have hosted before, sometimes you've got to weigh the pros and cons. There are so many details that could be overlooked and really, you don't know what you don't know. So we tapped into the knowledge of Tatiana Robertson, who has hosted short and long term students from all over the globe for over seven years.
In today's episode, we chat with Tatiana, whom Erin crowned the Master Host Mom, not once, but twice in our conversation. Hear her tips on what to do when your student first arrives at your home. She dives deep into responsibilities and obligations as a host and how cultural expectations play a major role in the success of your homestay experience. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Tatiana tells us about her hosting history.
- We lift the lid on what hosting is like with young children of your own.
- Hosting boys vs. girls. What are some of the differences?
- Looking back... why does Mary feel sorry for one student she hosted?
- We talk about trying to get boys to open up and communicate. #hostingshorttermvslongterm
- Find out why Erin crowned Tatiana Master Host Mom! Tatiana’s tips on how to set up your home (and relationship) for success.
- We talk about the difficulties students experience when trying to understand how young children speak.
- We discuss homestay hosts’ general responsibilities - the fine line between being a parent and being a host parent. #clearlydefineyourexpectations
- Tatiana dives deep into the importance of managing cultural expectations and how they play a major role in the success of your homestay experience.
- Why it’s important to work with a good agency.
- Tatiana shines a light on the warning signs to look out for if your student is suffering from mental health issues. #itsoktonotbeok
- Tatiana shares her experience of being on the ‘other’ side of hosting... as a natural parent.
- Life lessons... the one rule Tatiana broke, and why she will never do it again.
- The crazy way one student ruined Tatiana’s microwave.
- Creating family traditions with students.
- Get ready Japan! Mary is coming and she’s ready to hug (almost).
- Tatiana’s tips for up and coming homestay hosts.
Links: Oak Bay Recreation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tea.robber/
Follow Us: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/homestaykitchen/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/homestaykitchen/ Web – http://homestaykitchen.com/
When you decide to host international students in your home, it's not an easy decision, especially if this is your first time. And even if you have hosted before, sometimes you've got to weigh the pros and cons. There are so many details that could be overlooked and really, you don't know what you don't know. So we tapped into the knowledge of Tatiana Robertson, who has hosted short and long term students from all over the globe for over seven years.
In today's episode, we chat with Tatiana, whom Erin crowned the Master Host Mom, not once, but twice in our conversation. Hear her tips on what to do when your student first arrives at your home. She dives deep into responsibilities and obligations as a host and how cultural expectations play a major role in the success of your homestay experience. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Tatiana tells us about her hosting history.
- We lift the lid on what hosting is like with young children of your own.
- Hosting boys vs. girls. What are some of the differences?
- Looking back... why does Mary feel sorry for one student she hosted?
- We talk about trying to get boys to open up and communicate. #hostingshorttermvslongterm
- Find out why Erin crowned Tatiana Master Host Mom! Tatiana’s tips on how to set up your home (and relationship) for success.
- We talk about the difficulties students experience when trying to understand how young children speak.
- We discuss homestay hosts’ general responsibilities - the fine line between being a parent and being a host parent. #clearlydefineyourexpectations
- Tatiana dives deep into the importance of managing cultural expectations and how they play a major role in the success of your homestay experience.
- Why it’s important to work with a good agency.
- Tatiana shines a light on the warning signs to look out for if your student is suffering from mental health issues. #itsoktonotbeok
- Tatiana shares her experience of being on the ‘other’ side of hosting... as a natural parent.
- Life lessons... the one rule Tatiana broke, and why she will never do it again.
- The crazy way one student ruined Tatiana’s microwave.
- Creating family traditions with students.
- Get ready Japan! Mary is coming and she’s ready to hug (almost).
- Tatiana’s tips for up and coming homestay hosts.
Links: Oak Bay Recreation Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tea.robber/
Follow Us: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/homestaykitchen/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/homestaykitchen/ Web – http://homestaykitchen.com/
Previous Episode
Erin & Mary's Favourite Things
What are some of your favourite things? Things to indulge in, to keep you calm, or things that you love and won't give up. What can't you live without?
In this episode, we go through some of our favourite things. Whether they are student-related or personally loved by us, we share what keeps our hearts-a-flutter. Full disclosure, there's a lot of food-related items. So get to know us and then let us know if you love the same things. Or if you have something that we need to know about. Maybe one of our future favourite things is actually one of yours that we don't know about yet. So please let us know what you love to keep your life buzzing. Email us or find us on Instagram! We'd love to know. Thanks!
Key Points From This Episode:
- What’s the one thing Erin can’t live without?
- A devastating loss mourned. Erin reflects on parenting with patience.
- Erin’s absolute favourite household item.
- Mary reveals her favourite beverage.
- Which leads Erin to ask... what drink does Mary miss most?
- Our next item is both economical and a breeze to clean up in the kitchen.
- Mary on her love for small appliances. #howmanydoesshehave
- The rice intervention continues! Mary educates Erin about cooking with a rice cooker. When will Erin learn?
- What item can Mary not live without? (Hint: it has a catchphrase!)
- We talk tech. Get ready to download some apps!
- Speaking of food... how has Erin “corrupted” her students?
- What’s on our screens? We chat about our favourite shows to watch with students.
- The must have item for every girl.
- Getting to the end of the day... we discuss relaxation.
- What idea of Mary’s has Erin stolen? It’s our favourite thing!
Links:
Tazo Chai Via Venezia Green Lake Kispiox Valley IKEA Cheese Grater Martin Yan Google Translator Google Maps Grammarly Instagram WhatsApp Line Blue Cheese Dressing Game of Thrones The Walking Dead Alias New Girl Gilmore Girls The Vampire Diaries Bones Insight Timer App The Cognitive Shuffle
Follow Us: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/homestaykitchen/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/homestaykitchen/ Web – http://homestaykitchen.com/
Next Episode
10 Steps of Culture Shock
Culture shock can come in many different forms, not just language for international students. From food, to hygiene, and even the way people dress. It's not about what each culture is doing right or wrong, but about how things are done and are acceptable in different countries. Culture shock can be entertaining and fascinating to new students at first, but then it could also lead to confusion, feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and disoriented, which could induce homesickness. So what is this cycle and what signs are we looking for?
In today's episode, we go through the 10 steps of culture shock and how it's all part of being a homestay host to international students studying abroad.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Erin gives an update on how her students are settling into her family.
- We dive into the 10 steps of Culture Shock and the roller coaster of emotions it can bring.
- Erin speaks about some of the student situations/experiences in her home.
- Mary shares some of the specific culture shocks her students have struggled with.
- Erin chats about what her house looks like and sounds like with her girls.
- #mamabear
- We discuss what happens when long-term students go home to visit family during school breaks. #resettingthecycle
- Pre-returns ups and downs.
- Erin’s update on a possible student visit... just in time for Christmas.
- In a surprising twist, what did Erin get Mary to promise to try? It’s a reverse culture shock!
Links: Our conversation with Jennifer Wilson from the Canada Homestay Network
Follow Us: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/homestaykitchen/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/homestaykitchen/ Web – http://homestaykitchen.com/
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/the-homestay-kitchen-cultural-connections-with-international-students-165326/cultural-expectations-with-master-homestay-host-tatiana-robertson-8990443"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to cultural expectations with master homestay host tatiana robertson on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy