2008 Woodie Awards
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The Scene
Homes abroad prove not so homey
Cross-Cultural Dispatch: Madrid, Spain
By Carolyn Phenicie on 4/10/08
And then, of course, there are the horror stories. The host mom who complains that you have too much laundry. The one who feeds you only low-calorie food in very small portions and crosses herself when she finds you secretly eating Nutella by the spoonful. Another who goes out of her way to cut corners, even if it means turning off the lights as soon as the sun comes up or cutting heating bills by turning off the heat in favor of blankets. A crazy host brother who hides the Internet cable, keeping you from getting online. (All of these stories have actually happened to students on my program this semester.)
My señora is, for the most part, one of the best. She isn't the best cook and can't comprehend my yearlong distaste for ham (the one food I have firmly refused to eat), but she makes sure I'm always well-fed and that the heat is on when it needs to be. I know she isn't in it for the money.
But, by the same token, I know I would be happier in a dorm or apartment while abroad. Rooming with a Spaniard would be the best situation, in order to work on my Spanish. I would make Spanish friends and be less likely to draw inward and stick with the other Americans.
Currently, several AU Abroad programs (particularly enclaves) offer only a homestay as a housing option. Although it's not time to do away with them entirely, it certainly is time to offer other options.
My señora is, for the most part, one of the best. She isn't the best cook and can't comprehend my yearlong distaste for ham (the one food I have firmly refused to eat), but she makes sure I'm always well-fed and that the heat is on when it needs to be. I know she isn't in it for the money.
But, by the same token, I know I would be happier in a dorm or apartment while abroad. Rooming with a Spaniard would be the best situation, in order to work on my Spanish. I would make Spanish friends and be less likely to draw inward and stick with the other Americans.
Currently, several AU Abroad programs (particularly enclaves) offer only a homestay as a housing option. Although it's not time to do away with them entirely, it certainly is time to offer other options.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
Hilary
posted 4/18/08 @ 2:04 PM EST
The girl that wrote this article is a complete MORON. By the sounds of the complaints of her fellow Erasmus students, they have no idea what it is to live in Europe. (Continued…)
Kyle
posted 4/19/08 @ 1:57 AM EST
I agree with the first comment. I did this program myself and the director would have done anything to make our home stays more comfortable. I know when one girl had trouble with a family, she was invited to stay at the director's home until a suitable replacement was found. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 4/22/08 @ 8:47 AM EST
This doesn´t make any sense. You don´t go to Spain to live in an isolated dorm and live like you do here. It´s just a part of the deal. Living with a family gives a unique perspective as to how another culture operates and I enjoyed my experience greatly. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 4/28/08 @ 7:51 PM EST
I completely disagree with this article. Frankly, I don't think the writer realizes how lucky she was to be so completely immersed as she was through her homestay. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 4/29/08 @ 11:42 AM EST
Carolyn,
I hope you took note of the follow up posted to this article: http://media.www.theeagleonline.com/media/storage/paper666/news/2008/04/28/Opinions/OpEd-In. (Continued…)
lauren
posted 4/30/08 @ 5:14 PM EST
Homestays are terrible and I agree with everything she said here. It is difficult to live with a host family and a lot of it isn't simply cultural differences, but idiosyncrasies within the families. (Continued…)
Virginia
posted 5/28/08 @ 11:03 AM EST
I am still currently living in Spain from the Spring 2008 semester, and I am completely aghast. Clearly, this author did not learn one thing from her abroad experience-- but that was not due to the experience she was given to make her own. (Continued…)
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