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 19^th 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.