Could you host a vistior? Is your place good enough? You don't need to look like a rand hotel. Students would feel awkward in grand hotels, worrying about the cost, or if they break anything. You are not a hotel. You are a homestay.
I'd seen advertieements for hosting students in London, and wondered what it was like. My friend in Singapore told me her onling experience.
Langth Of Stay
Some students are needing accommodation for a week. Others stay for two or three weeks. Som stay for a month or two.
Bedroom Space
You don't need a grand bedroom. Just comfortable and clean. An empty wardrobe or hooks for clothes.
You need to provide your visitor with a separate bedroom. You can't have them sleeping on the couch.
On the other hand, maybe two of them can share a room. They should have separate beds or bunk beds.
Do you have a large enough room, for one? Get paid more for two!
Maybe you can have one or two of them in your bedroom. If it's the larger room, you can take the smaller room.
You can sleep on the couch. Or in a sleeping bag, or on a massage couch, or with the neighbour, a friend or nearby relative, or a tent in the garden, or in your campervan. If that is legal where you live.
You have to make sure you are not exceeding the numbers allowed in your size or property. Check your local council regulations as well as the student acommodation agency.
Providing Food
This agency requires students to be able to have breakfast and lunch or evening dinner. They pay pro rata, so it might suit you or them for them if they are out a lot for dinner. They might let you know in advance or phon to tell you. You need to keep a tally.
Clothe Washing Cost
They also pay for each time they use the washing machine.
Airport Transfer
The school's agency meets them at the airport and brings them to your accoomdation. With the system run by this agency, there's nothing for you to worry about there, not the cost, or time nor worry of them getting lost.
The Advantage Of Two Students
When the students stays overlap, the one who arrives earlier can show the secodn one around, where to catch the bus and so on.
Languages
Some stdents have come to learn English. Others might be doing different subjects such as engineering. If the students don't speak much English, and they are not trying to learn English from you, they can keep each other company. Supposing they are Japanese, the advantage of having two students is that they can help each other cope with the customs, shopping and transport in a new country and are not stressed nor lonely.
Each agency has different rules. So check whether you can comply and whether the remuneration suits you.
My friend who offers accommodation to students has a live in helper. That means somebody is there to welcome the students. To make them breakfast. And check they are not doing anyting naughty!
You, The Student
Not all students are schoolchildren on exchange programmes nor teenagers. Meanwhile, my friend is herself a perpetual student. She has taken all kinds of courses on healing mind and body, in the UK, Europe, Asia and Singapore.
A final option
No spare room? You can do home swaps. See next post.
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