Student Stories

Named after me!

naomi the baby alpaca.jpg

My hosts were an amazing 3-generation family who live in the countryside. They have foster children whose own parents cannot look after them, and they have a seriously disabled young adult who lives with them permanently.

They keep chickens and they have quite a lot of alpacas. While I was there, one of the alpacas gave birth, and I was able to watch it all happen. It was so exciting.

Then my hosts told me they would name the baby alpaca after me. I thought it was a joke - but they really meant it! So now there is an alpaca in the South of England called Naomi.

My HOST visit was a wonderful experience.

Naomi Asato from Japan, at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London

 

 

 




This is a must

HOST UK gave me one of the best experiences in my life. My visit made me realise that British people are as kind as people in my country. My hosts, Mrs Jackie and Mr Doug, are helpful, open-minded, and very kind people. They were pleased to share everything with me which was great and such a rare opportunity to get. We visited many places and had many interesting talks. We shared our cultures and stories with  each other. I also got the opportunity to breed beef cows at their farm which was super exciting.

They live not too far away from my university, so even before my visit, I had an opportunity to meet them by attending a traditional Scottish event. That was my first time to be introduced to Ceilidh Dance. Mrs Jackie has also invited me to visit her school and introduce my culture there someday.

HOST is a must programme all international students should consider when they have taken their first step in the UK. It will give you many new and unique opportunities. It will give you insights into how British people spend their day, interact with each other and many other positive things. HOST will give you unforgettable memories. Focusing on our study is a must, and applying for a visit at HOST is another must  thing to do as well. All in all, it will not be enough just to tell you how wonderful and amazing HOST is. I recommend you to apply for a visit to experience the most amazing weekends in the UK.

Adhitya Ryan Ramadhani, Indonesia, University of Aberdeen

 

 

Contact us

HOST UK at EIL UK

17 Graham Road, Malvern,

Worcestershire WR14 2HR

 

Tel: 01684 562577

 

Email Us!

A precious gift

A dream come true for Md. Mahbubur Rahman Khan of Bangladesh

This visit fulfilled my long desire to see the countryside of England. One interesting part was cooking traditional food (Biriyani) from my country. The couple who hosted me were very nice and lovely people. I felt like we had been friends for a lifetime, and I felt I was home away from home.

I had lots of prizes and gifts in my lifetime. But honestly, the most precious gift that I got is to get the chance to meet the lovely people around the country. It totally changed my mind about the lifestyle of British people.

 

How to say thank you

Thank you messages are very important to our hosts. They reassure them that they have given their student guest a good experience.

This is the lovely thank you letter sent by Ben Eyeki, a student from Nigeria, to his hosts in Dorset.

I am writing to inform you that I arrived back at University of Sussex safely.

I want to use this opportunity to, once again, thank you very sincerely for the hospitality you extended to me. When I was coming to Hilfield, I had some doubts and expectations. I must say that you didn't only meet my expectations but, in fact, surpassed it. It is amazing how a group of people can be so warm and loving in a world where hatred and brutality is the trend. Everybody made me feel wanted. I was even more pleased with the fact that as the only black man in your midst, you received me with both hands and made me completely happy to be with you. I cannot forget my time there.

As I return to my school, I return with a feeling of fulfilment and relief that Christmas away from home can also be fun. Indeed, home is where one makes it and I found home at Hilfield. God bless you all so much for your warm reception!

Sunday dinner

A one-day HOST visit can be a great choice for busy students

I chose to have a one-day HOST visit quite close to my university. My hosts were a family with a teenage son and daughter. They are so friendly and warm host, I had a wonderful day! They kindly picked me up from the railway station, we baked scone, take me to pub, ate delicious dinner, play games and so on. I really learned a lot from this trip, thanks to HOST’s effort of finding such a suitable and kind host for me. 

Minyi Liang from China is studying Events Management at the University of Surrey

Crazy, man!

Daniel Huang from the USA met a true British eccentric

My first time communicating with Alan, he introduced himself as 'a retired academic who may seem slightly eccentric to an American'. I knew then that I was bound for an interesting experience.

On our way to his house from the train station, Alan suddenly leapt onto the street and began flapping his hands wildly at a passing car. Naturally, I asked him what that was about. He explained that it was past dusk and the car’s headlights were off, he was signaling to the driver to turn them on.

Alan had a whole itinerary planned out. We toured the little English town, making a visit to some interesting sites. Then, we drove up to Heacham which had a nice beach and the historical significance of being Pocahantas’ home after she moved to England.

Next, we visited Castle Acre, a plot of land with a 900 year-old castle. Alan asked me if I played Frisbee. I said I dabbled. In one swift motion, he pulled out a massive disk from the inside of his jacket. I was speechless. Some Frisbee-throwing ensued in the castle grounds. Afterwards, we drove by Sandringham Estate, one of the Queen’s holiday homes.

That night Alan invited some of his neighbors over. There was good red wine, a  good selection of biscuits and cake, and some real human connections.

On our way back to the train station Alan showed me his proudest contribution to the local community. In a little side street was a sign that said, 'Devil’s Alley'. Alan pointed to the apostrophe, beaming. 'I checked the historical records at the Town Hall - it’s supposed to be Devil’s Alley, with an apostrophe. So they put it in.'

It had been a great weekend!

 

A busy weekend

Israel Eweka is from Nigeria, and studying for a Masters in French at Reading University. He spent an action-packed July weekend with hosts in Devon. Israel writes:

My visit was wonderful. Peter and Linda received me at Exeter Central train station and we drove to their beautiful home on the edge of Dartmoor After some refreshments, they showed me around their village.

On Saturday, we travelled to Totnes where we visited the reconstructed Elizabethan castle. We later ferried across River Dart down to Dartmouth, where we walked around the hilly quarters and along the coastline.

On Sunday morning, we attended the Anglican Holy Communion Service at the ancient village church where great French warlords were buried in the early 19th Century. On our way back, we viewed an exhibition of paintings and photographs in the village hall.  Upon my request, we went for a drive to see the legendary Tintagel, home of King Arthur and a part of the plot for the famous medieval legend of Tristan and Yseult. Finally, we drove across the Dartmoor National Park to view the vast expanse of land generously adorned with greenery and stones, where ponies, sheep and cows are healthily pastured. 

All these trips were beside the great food, drinks and fruits to which I was treated, as well as historical lessons I received from my hosts. We played Scrabble, watched football, watched a documentary film on Arthurian birthplace, went to restaurants and took photographs. The hosts were far too kind to me and played a significant role in my life within three days. I wish I could do this again.

Many thanks to HOST and the University of Reading for such an impactful initiative. I also wish to express my profound gratitude to Peter and Linda for their hospitality, generosity, philanthropy and patriotism.