Guests

Episode 42: Experiences of Being a New Homestay Host from Jennifer Longworth

November 12, 2019 Homestay Kitchen Communication, Food, Guests, Short-term hosting 00:37:28

In today’s episode, Erin had work to do, so Mary got to chat with Jennifer Longworth from Lexington, Kentucky. A new host parent who’s only hosted a total of 3 times for very short periods and all from Japan. We talk through what it’s like to be a very new host and what were some of the most surprising aspects of hosting. And it wouldn’t be right to talk to our fellow neighbours to the south without pointing out a couple of differences from our countries, like hockey for us and southern food for her.

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Episode 40: Fearless Communication Skills and Owning Your Moxie with Heather Thompson

October 28, 2019 Homestay Kitchen Communication, Food, Guests, Long-term hosting, Short-term hosting, Travel 00:50:10

One of the major challenges of hosting international students is to navigate the language barrier. Communication is key to any relationship, so how do you have the confidence to speak your mind when your student doesn’t speak your language? At times you need to be fearless and in today’s episode we chat with Heather Thompson who shares this grit with a side of humour.

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Episode 38: Cultural Expectations with Master Homestay Host Tatiana Robertson

October 14, 2019 Homestay Kitchen Communication, Family, Guests, Holiday, Long-term hosting, Parenting, Short-term hosting, Travel 00:55:43

In today’s episode, we chat with Tatiana Robertson, whom Erin crowned the Master Host Mom, not once, but twice in our conversation. When you decide to host international students in your home, we know it’s not an easy decision, especially if this is your first time.

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Episode 36: Part 2 – Sending Your Kids to Study Abroad and the Homestay Industry with Jennifer Wilson from the Canada Homestay Network

September 30, 2019 Homestay Kitchen Family, Food, Guests, Long-term hosting, Parenting, Short-term hosting, Travel 00:25:18

This is part two of our conversation with Jennifer Wilson, the Managing Director of the Canada Homestay Network. As relationship experts, they are not only working with you as a homestay host, but also juggling relationships with agencies, student’s parents, and of course, the students themselves. However, in this episode, we hear how Jennifer’s role reverses by sharing her experience of being a parent sending her daughter to study abroad. Plus, we discuss the future of the homestay industry, and dive more into common issues that hosts might navigate through during their homestay hosting journey.

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Episode 35: Part 1 – Homestay Expertise and Building Relationships with Jennifer Wilson from the Canada Homestay Network

September 23, 2019 Homestay Kitchen Communication, Family bonding, Guests, Long-term hosting, Parenting, Short-term hosting 00:38:29

How do you build a successful relationship with homestay students? You ask the experts. In this episode, we chat with Jennifer Wilson, the Managing Director of the Canada Homestay Network. As a second-generation leader of the Canada Homestay Network, Jennifer is passionate about creating opportunities for building relationships and believes that homestay offers a unique opportunity for all of us to break down cultural barriers and make the world a smaller place.

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Episode 33: World Student Day with Languages Canada

July 22, 2019 Homestay Kitchen Food, Guests, Travel 00:36:34

What if we had a day to celebrate our world’s diversity by bringing the world to your doorstep? Well you’re in luck. World Student Day is on July 26th, 2019. This free public event is happening across Canada brought to you by Languages Canada, the voice of the Canadian language education sector.

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Episode 29: Building Student Connections Through a Foundation of Boundaries with Dean Fox

June 24, 2019 Homestay Kitchen Communication, Family bonding, Guests, Long-term hosting, Parenting, Short-term hosting, Travel 00:43:12

Today, we chat with Dean Fox, a veteran homestay host with his wife and two kids. Dean shares with us his perspective of being a homestay Dad with a very practical and matter of fact frame of mind. He describes how miscommunication can happen even when no words are being used and how his family even vacationed to Disneyland with another student.

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Episode 27: Homestay Family Mindset with Jodi Johl

June 10, 2019 Homestay Kitchen Birthdays, Communication, Cooking with Students, Family, Family bonding, Guests, Holiday, Long-term hosting, Parenting, Short-term hosting 00:35:21

Being a homestay parent comes with many challenges and rewards. If you are new to hosting or considering taking on this gratifying experience, you’ll want to listen to our chat with seasoned host parent, Jodi Johl.

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Episode 25: Food Culture and Improving Your Food Relationship with Carla Beer-Carpenter

May 27, 2019 Homestay Kitchen Communication, Cooking with Students, Food, Guests, Long-term hosting, Short-term hosting 00:45:18

Food brings people together, but what if food becomes a barrier? Eating disorders are mental health issues and some students arrive with a negative dependency on food, without you even noticing. So what are the clues? Today, we chat with Carla Beer-Carpenter, a registered dietitian for almost 30 years with a passion for helping people improve their relationship with food while working towards their health and nutrition goals.

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Episode 23: Positivity, an Open Heart, and Hosting in Toronto with Rosalyn Benatar

May 13, 2019 Homestay Kitchen Food, Guests, Holiday, Long-term hosting, Parenting, Short-term hosting, Travel 00:34:40

How do your intentions bring out the best in your family to have a successful homestay experience? What differences do the big city of Toronto and the west coast of Canada provide to an international student? In this episode, we chat with Rosalyn Benatar, a recent transplant from Toronto to Victoria, BC. 

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