Photo: 123RF
Families who host international students on homestay visits believe the experience is rewarding for both parties despite encountering the odd hiccup along the way.
Many hosts told RNZ overseas students who were considering staying in the country for study should learn basic English and New Zealand culture, strive to be independent and open to new experiences.
That said, hosts also needed to be patient and respectful to students and not be afraid to set rules, they said.
Auckland woman Jessica Guo has hosted about 20 homestay students in the past eight years, with most of them visiting short term from Japan and China.
Having two mixed-heritage young children with her New Zealand husband, Guo thought it would be educational to host individuals from China so her children could learn about Chinese culture.
"My husband is an English teacher, so the students can also learn about Kiwi culture," she said. "It's a mixture of both cultures."
In terms of food, they cook in Chinese and Western styles to suit different tastes, Guo said.
"I would also teach the students how to bake, as I love baking," she said.
"My family loves sports and I would bring them to try things they're never tried before such as cricket, tennis and golf."
She would also take the children to visit parks and scenic spots.
"The children became good friends, and after they went back to China, they would keep in touch with me too," Guo said.
Photo: 123RF
Guo had also hosted children who were "harder to deal with".
"They were not good with hygiene, and their manners could be problematic. ... Just a typical spoiled brat," she said.
"The biggest challenge was ... how to guide them and make them realise that they have this problem, but also don't let them feel offended," she said.
"It can feel bad if you're criticised in a foreign country ... so I try to communicate in a more tactful way, and sometimes I try to point out the problem to them based on how acceptable they were."
Her husband would encourage those who were shy to be brave and try to engage in conversation, Guo said.
Guo encouraged parents who were thinking about sending their children to study in New Zealand to start preparations in advance.
"The child needs to learn to be more independent in terms of day-to-day life and their own study and also learn a bit more about the local culture," she said.
"They can learn how to do basic communication in English," she said. "They should also learn some basic etiquette before coming over."
It was rewarding to host students from different cultural backgrounds, Guo said.
"They can play games and exercise together, instead of constantly staring at screens," Guo said.
"My husband and I take turns cooking dishes from different countries every day. It's so nice to have other children appreciating our cooking.
"Of course, we also earn some money, which we can use for travel."
Vivian Xiong and her husband have been hosting homestay students for more than a decade. Photo: Supplied
Aucklander mum Vivian Xiong began hosting students more than 10 years ago.
"We were curious," she said. "This was a new experience, a kind of social life in New Zealand. This is something I have always liked to seek."
Xiong lived with her husband and teenage daughter, hosting another three international students under one roof.
Cooking for six people might not be as daunting as some people might think, Xiong said.
She would often make sure there was a balance between protein, carbs and vegetables, mixing each of these components to create many different meals.
For example, people could prepare rice, noodles or bread as carbs, and then eat eggs and various meats for protein and some salads on the side, Xiong said.
Braised pork belly and Sichuan boiled fish or chicken or beef steak, or Teriyaki chicken or meat in various curries were good protein components for a meal that couldn't go wrong, she said.
"You can be creative with cooking," Xiong said.
Students were encouraged to participate in school events and be active, with one of her homestay students signing up to participate in dancing, rowing and running clubs.
"My advice is that young people should try more things when they're in a new environment," Xiong said.
"Just like a young tree. You need to spread your roots in a new place and extend your roots as far as you can. You can't just rely on the soil in the pot you used to grow in."
One of Vivian Xiong's homestay students has joined dancing, rowing and running clubs. Photo: Supplied
Auckland resident Leo Sun is relatively new to the homestay programme, only starting to host students earlier this year.
"I've always had the impression that many children would say they weren't well-fed or given good accommodation, accompanied by conflicts with their hosts," Sun said.
"My friend has a homestay student who seemed really nice. ... I love cooking and dealing with young people, so I thought I'd give it a go."
Sun and his wife prepared a variety of food for their Chinese homestay student and two young children.
Lighthearted chats on the dining table were common, and family outings were also planned for when the weather got warmer, he said.
Some young people could be spoiled, and the hosts shouldn't be afraid to make appropriate rules and explain them clearly to the students with patience, Sun said.
"If you are doing homestay through a school ... you should follow the rules in the homestay manual provided by the school," Sun said.
"Having rules that are based on your own family's living habits will also make the long-term relationship more comfortable. If the student doesn't like it, they can change their homestay family in time."
Homestay services are typically provided by the student's education provider, such as a school or university, or through specialist homestay organisations, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Education said.
"Schools or universities can partner with these organisations, through their own accommodation coordinators, and arrange visits to make sure student welfare and the suitability of the home is good, as required by the Education Code of Practice."
Payment to hosts for offering homestay services varies based on how many meals are provided, the amenities on offer, which city they live in and the age of the student.
Taking Auckland as an example, payments range from $330 to $360 a week for a student aged under 18 years old depending on how many meals are provided, according to accommodation provider New Zealand Homestay.
