host family horror stories

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

One common element is a lack of respect for the guest's privacy. For example, the host family might enter the guest's room without permission.

Sure. One horror story is about a host family that was extremely controlling. They dictated every minute of the guest's day, from when they could eat to what they could wear. It was like living in a prison.

Sure. One horror story is when a host family made the exchange student clean the entire huge house alone every day. They didn't respect the student's study time at all and just treated them like a free maid.

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.

One horror story could be a host family overworking the au pair. They made her work from dawn till late at night, taking care of the kids, cleaning the whole house, and cooking all the meals without proper breaks. Another is a host family being extremely rude and disrespectful, constantly criticizing the au pair's appearance and accent.

There was a student who had a host family that was constantly arguing. Screaming matches were a daily occurrence. It made the student feel very uncomfortable and unsafe. There was also a lack of proper food as the family was too preoccupied with their own problems to cook proper meals for the student.

Students should do thorough research before choosing a host family. They can look for reviews from previous students who stayed with the family. Also, they can communicate a lot with the host family in advance. For example, ask about their daily routines, rules, and living conditions. If something seems off during these communications, it's a red flag.