What are the common elements in host family horror stories?

One common element is lack of privacy. Host families might go through your stuff or not respect your personal space.

Often, in these horror stories, there are issues with cleanliness. Guests arrive to find dirty rooms, bathrooms, or kitchens. Also, unexpected and unpleasant noises are common, whether it's from machinery, animals in a way that's not pleasant, or just noisy neighbors that the host didn't mention. And sometimes, the host has a lot of rules that they don't communicate clearly until the guests are already there and it becomes a source of conflict.

One horror story could be a host family that was extremely strict about food. They made the AFS student follow a very restricted diet without considering the student's own preferences or cultural food habits. For example, not allowing the student to eat any snacks from their home country, which made the student feel isolated and deprived.

One common element is a haunted house. Many family horror stories involve families moving into a new place that turns out to be haunted. Another element is a cursed object. Just like the doll in the previous story, an object that brings bad luck or strange occurrences. And family secrets also play a big part. Sometimes the horror is linked to something that the family has been hiding for generations.

One common element is a haunted house. It often has strange noises, like creaking floors or banging on the walls. Another element is the presence of something that seems out of place, like an old object with a mysterious past, such as a cursed mirror or a possessed doll. Strange apparitions are also common, like seeing a ghostly figure in the hallway or at the foot of a bed at night. Family members often start to act differently too, like becoming more withdrawn or having unexplained fits of fear.

One common element is money issues. For example, in divorce cases, one party may try to hide assets to avoid splitting them fairly. Another is custody battles. Often, false accusations are made to gain an advantage in getting custody of the children. Also, complex and unclear family laws can be a big part of it. People may not understand their rights and obligations fully, leading to unfair situations.

One common horror story is when the host forgets your reservation. You show up excited for your meal, but they have no record of it. Then they either make you wait a long time or turn you away. It's really frustrating.

Dirty accommodations are common. Guests expect a clean place but sometimes find dirty bathrooms or unmade beds. Another is overcharging. Some hosts try to add extra fees that were not mentioned before.

I heard of a situation where the host family promised a clean and comfortable living environment but it was the opposite. The room given to the student was dirty and full of bugs. The heating didn't work during the cold winter months either. And on top of that, the family members were always arguing loudly, creating a very tense and unpleasant atmosphere for the student who was trying to study and adapt to a new country.

One horror story is when a host family made the au pair work excessive hours. They constantly added more tasks like cleaning the whole house daily, taking care of multiple kids alone for long hours, and also doing all the grocery shopping. It was way more than what was agreed in the contract, leaving the au pair exhausted and stressed.