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Host families: the dance of tit for tat.
by carlson.hannahk
Topic: Culture Shock, Host Family, Study Abroad
Type: Story/Article
Date posted: February 1, 2012
Country: Costa Rica
Content
Living with an unfamiliar family, beyond asking where the towels are kept and when dinner takes place, it may be difficult to open up and get to know your hosts.
If you share with them things that interest you, they will in turn include you in their family pastimes.
A few weeks into my study abroad program, I asked my mama tica if I could use the kitchen to bake. She was very enthusiastic that I wanted to cook something for them, and was even more amused to see that I had brought my own pie tin to Costa Rica (just in case!).
I shared my pies with them, and eventually taught my sisters how to make the crust I use. My little brother later asked me to help him make his famous flan, and we all made Christmas cookies and fruitcakes together as the holidays approached.
If you are a musician, share that with your hosts and play something for them (if you have the means to). If you love sports or video games see if any of your siblings want to play with you. Another girl living with the same family as me taught our brother how to play games on her computer, only to discover that he beat all her scores his first time playing!
Never underestimate the power of pie and computer pinball to bring people together.
If you share with them things that interest you, they will in turn include you in their family pastimes.
A few weeks into my study abroad program, I asked my mama tica if I could use the kitchen to bake. She was very enthusiastic that I wanted to cook something for them, and was even more amused to see that I had brought my own pie tin to Costa Rica (just in case!).
I shared my pies with them, and eventually taught my sisters how to make the crust I use. My little brother later asked me to help him make his famous flan, and we all made Christmas cookies and fruitcakes together as the holidays approached.
If you are a musician, share that with your hosts and play something for them (if you have the means to). If you love sports or video games see if any of your siblings want to play with you. Another girl living with the same family as me taught our brother how to play games on her computer, only to discover that he beat all her scores his first time playing!
Never underestimate the power of pie and computer pinball to bring people together.
posted by
carlson.hannahk
Country: United States
Tier: 4
Joined: Feb 2010
Expert in: Backpacking in Peru, Host Family in Costa Rica, Study Abroad in Costa Rica, Arts, Food, Drink, Cafe
other stories by carlson.hannahk
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