Hosting a 17 year old German girl for the year, advice on rules please?

[disguisedeb]

Hi, we have 3 boys aged 12, 10 and 4, and we have agreed to host a German girl from September to June. It says in the details to be clear on rules regarding when she needs to be in etc... As mine aren't that age yet, I just wondered what other people's advice would be?

Hmm, tricky. I've done it for a couple of months but our German student was the same age as my DS, so it was easier.

I guess it depends what she'll be doing. Is she going to your local secondary school, and does she already know people?

For my 17 year old DS, the rules are generally: make your own packed lunch, put your dirty washing in the basket, remember your key and text if you're going to be late.

It's a bit different when it's a stranger, and you won't know who she's out with etc. Are you in a town or the countryside? Will you be expected to drive her places?

We host foreign students every summer. Ages range from 14 to 17. Our nearest big town is Swindon, which is where they go to study, and where they congregate for nights out.
We give a curfew of 10pm if getting a bus home, but occasionally offer to pick up at 11pm.
Night life in British towns is very different to European towns, where there's more of a cafe culture. I wouldn't want my teenage DDs out on the town in Swindon, and as we're in loco parentis while students are with us, same rules apply.

Best thing is to discuss with the parents and ask what rules there are at home. If you aren't happy with them, I'm sure they'll agree that your rules apply in your home.

Thanks to both of you, we're in a very quiet village and she'll be going to school in the next town. She won't know anyone as the other students are going to be based in other towns. Good idea about talking to her parents first. This was a last minute placement so it's all a bit of a rush!!

Good luck! If it works out, you'll have a relationship for life!
I love introducing foreign students to the British way of life. And I find that their questions about life and our language makes me question things I've always taken for granted - why we do things the way we do, or say what we say.
It will be a very rewarding experience for your children too.
In our experience, best thing is to embrace the child as part of your family straight away and don't treat them like a guest. Get her to muck in with everyone else, and give her free rein regarding taking snacks etc.

I agree with suedthepantsoffem that this could be a relationship for life.

When I was 18 my parents hosted a Finnish boy for a year and I've just finished wrapping a birthday present for his DD who is 9weeks older than my DS!

We went to his wedding and he and his wife came to ours and they come to visit at least once a year.

I can be a really wonderful thing!