Host family

During our trip to Ireland we had the opportunity to stay in a host family. Before we came here we could choose if we either wanted to be together with someone or alone. In Carlow it was a little bit different, I think because it was the first time Erasmus + was partnering with them. Only me and my friend Aleyna stayed together in a host family. The other students in Carlow stayed alone in a host family. It is probably better to stay alone. You can improve your English better because you are on your own.

The first meeting

A week before we were taking part to the exchange programm, the project Erasmus +  announced the names and adresses from all the host familes. I was texting my host mother and she immediately answered, so I was not so nervous about the stay in a host family because I was in contact with her before the stay. At the beginning, many were still very skeptical about how life in the host family will be. On our arrival in Carlow, however, every skeptiscim was gone, as we were greeted and welcomed very affectionately. Everyone was so excited. On the 27th of June we arrived at Dublin airport and then a bus took us to the town where we lived. The first stop the bus made was in Carlow. Our town. We all saw the families standing outside and waiting for us. I got off the bus and my Host Mama was hugging me. My host mother was also with another student from Spain. I had a host mother, a host father and a seven year old host Sister and also two cute host dogs.

General living

Some of us were located in the city and the others lived outside. Me and my friend Aleyna were living outside the city. Our house, were we stayed for one month was 20 minutes away from the city but it was no problem because our host Family always drove us where we want to go, whether to the city or to our workplace.

We had our own bedroom and also our own bathroom. As i mentioned before another student from another country also lived in our host family. So it can also be that other exchange students from other coutries stay with you.

From monday to friday we had to work typical eight hours. The hostfamily also packed us lunch. Everymorning we had breakfast. After work we chilled a little bit in our rooms or with the host family in the living room or outside we played with the dogs. (I had the luck that my family had two small beautiful and sweet dogs, miss them already) then we ate lunch with them. My family was so nice. They spend time with us. We were making a trip to a beach it was one hour away. Our Host Family treated us like their own children. We also meet the nearer family. The mother and father of our host Dad and all his Siblings and his nephew. We had a barbecue with the whole family.

We are all really glad that we got the chance to stay with an Irish family. It was a good experience to stay with them. It was like a new life in one month with other Moms and Dads and siblings. We are all glad that we had the chance to get to know another culture.

                                                                                                   Sarah Helbock