The key to a successful homestay experience is to learn and understand as much about American culture as possible before arriving. We hope this Q&A will help you to take the first step toward a memorable homestay experience.     What kind of hostfamily am I going to stay with? The U.S. is a land of immigrants and their descendants. Your hostfamily may be Americans of European, African, Asian, Middle Eastern, or Latin American descent. Hostfamilies can be made up of a mother, father, and children. They can be a single parent and a child; or even a couple or singles with no children. Religion, race, and age vary among different hostfamilies. How do you match the student with the hostfamily? After receiving a potential hostfamily's application, the ICC homestay coordinator will visit the hostfamily's home. Then they have to pass Washington State Background check. After they have finished the application process, we match the hostfamily with the student based on the application forms from both sides. We will then send you the hostfamily information approximately two weeks prior to your arrival. How long does it take to school from my homestay? If you have a car, it is most likely 10 to 30 minutes. If you decide to take a bus, it can take 30 minutes to 1 hour. Please remember that America is a huge country, and the public transportation is not as convenient as it is in some countries. We often recommend that students to think about purchasing a car during their stay in the U.S. If you would like to get some idea about the location of school and your homestay, the site below will be very helpful. http://www.mapquest.com/ Will I live with other foreign students? Some hostfamilies accept more than one student at a time. This provides a great opportunity to meet people from different countries. It is ICC policy to try not to place two students from the same country at the same homestay.     How much is the application fee for homestay? Matching you with a host, meeting you at the airport, and taking you to your host is $250.00. This fee is non-refundable. How much is the homestay fee per month? The homestay fee is currently $625 per month. This includes food for three meals a day and a private room. I am going away for vacation for a long time. Do I get a refund? If you are going away for a long time, please let your host know. ICC will explain all the rules and conditions at the orientation after you arrive.     What kind of food will I eat every day? Even if your host has both a father and a mother, they almost always both work full time. This means they are BUSY. Some just eat pizza or frozen food for dinner. Others may not eat a lot of vegetables. It all depends on the family. Your homestay fee includes three meals per day. You are responsible for fixing your own breakfast and lunch; however, dinner is usually spent with your host. Please remember that often your schedule may conflict with dinnertime. What should I do about laundry and cleaning? Please make sure you ask your host how to use the clothes appliances before using. Usually in American households, they do laundry once a week, and you may want to do the same. In terms of cleaning, you need to keep your bedroom and bathroom (in some homes you may have your own bathroom and in others you may share) clean. You also need to pick up your belongings in any common area of the house that you use. May I use my host's phone to call my country? If you need to use the phone to make an international phone call, you will need to ask permission from your host and pay the cost of the phone call when presented with a copy of the bill. To avoid this and to also avoid higher international rates, ICC has great prepaid cards in our office that you can purchase. Ask us the rate of your country and we will be happy to provide the card to you. We strongly suggest using a pre-paid telephone card. May I use my computer to connect to the Internet at home? Please ask your host first. If you use your computer a lot, we suggest you buy your own line instead of sharing the phone line with your host. What can I do with my valuable items? You should put your valuables away in a safe drawer or place in your room. In case they are lost, it is your responsibility. We suggest that you open a bank account and to keep large amounts of money there. Is there a curfew? There is usually no curfew at a homestay. If you know that you will be late for dinner, late coming home, or staying overnight at your friend's house, please tell host know in advance. Please call and leave a message if you can't reach them. Can I use the shower and eat food anytime I want? Dinnertime is usually set for each home. Please let them know if you plan to come home later than the usual dinnertime. Please ask your host about the shower time and the length of the shower. Americans usually wake up early and go to bed early. You may not be able to use the shower after certain times. Also they may limit your shower time for conservation reasons. How much time should I spend with my host every day at home? Try to spend as much time as possible at home. For example, you can help your host setting up the table for dinner or doing the dishes with them. If you don't need privacy, you can also leave the door to your room open so your host knows you are available. Host kids and pets come into my room all the time. What should I do? Almost all households have pets in America. If you are allergic to some animals, please note that in the application form. If you have difficulty with children or pets, please communicate with your host first. Don't be silent or get upset. Always talk to the host first. My host is so busy that we don't have a lot of time to talk. What should I do? If your host is very busy during the week, you may offer to help setting up the table for dinner or try accommodating your schedule to theirs. Also try to join family activities on weekends. My room is very cold and dark. What should I do? Many houses in Washington State have basements, and hosts often open one room in the basement for students. It may be cooler there than the rest of the house. Please communicate with your host if the room gets too cold. It is ok to ask your host for an extra heater or blankets. Do I need to do household chores? You are not staying at a hotel. You are not a guest at the house. You are a member of the family. In America, even little boys are expected to help their mothers with certain house chores. Therefore, it is courteous for you to help your host around the house. However, if it interferes with your schoolwork, please talk to your host first.   What can I do to change my host? We can't change your host based on their race, age, or religion. If you have a legitimate reason such as the host moves to another location, there are constant arguments within the family, the food condition is below minimum, the bus schedule changed and your commute takes longer than one hour, then it is possible to change your homestay. Please feel free to contact us anytime. We are here to help you. What else can ICC do for us? ICC not only finds you a host and meets you at the airport, but we also offer an extended three-month premium service plan. Please check our service plans; we would love to help you out more than just the first day. What is the key to a successful homestay? Communication. Don't pretend you understand when you don't. Don't be silent when you have problems. Americans love to talk. They are interested in getting to know you and your culture. Talk to them. Take your time. If you continue to feel uncomfortable, please contact us. Remember we are here to help you.