Our families are located in and around the Charlottetown area. Most homes are between five and twenty minutes away by car.

Your homestay family will take you to school and pick you up after school every day.

When you send us your application form, we look carefully at the information you include such as interests, hobbies, etc. We then try to find a family that shares your interests.

If you have a special diet need such as an allergy to foods, or you are a vegetarian, please indicate this on your application form. This is important for us to know when we are trying to place you in a homestay.

You should ask your homestay family about using the phone. Local calls are free; however, some families will tell you if they have house rules about the length of time you should talk on the phone. If you are making long distance call, we suggest that you buy a calling card in order to pay for the call. Also, most families prefer that you do not receive calls really late at night or really early in the morning. Ask your homestay family what is OK in their house.

Many families have personal computers now. You should ask if it is OK to use the computer, if there is one in your homestay. The school has a number of computers for you to use before and after class.

Canadian breakfast is usually at about 7:30 am on weekdays and later on the weekends. Canadians eat cereal or toast with tea/coffee, juice or milk for breakfast. On the weekends, we sometimes eat a larger breakfast or a breakfast/lunch combination called brunch.

During the week, Canadians usually have an hour for lunch. Your lunch break at school will be from 12:00 am to 1:00 pm. On the weekend, lunch may be eaten between 11:30 and 2:00. An example of a typical Canadian lunch is a sandwich and fruit, along with other foods like yogurt or cookies. Snacks are sometimes eaten between meals. A snack is usually a piece of fruit, cookies, a muffin, etc.

Canadian supper time is usually between 5:00 and 6:30 pm. Meals often consist of meat, potatoes and vegetables. Of course, every family has different likes and dislikes, so you may find your family enjoys foods like pizza, fish, spaghetti, or pasta. Also, desserts are a favourite among Canadians.

Your homestay family may ask you to help with supper, such as setting the table before supper or clearing away the dishes after supper. It is good manners to offer to help if you see that the family is busy with preparations. This is also a good time to practise English! Take time to talk to your family about food likes and dislikes.

Some activities families like to do are visiting friends and family, playing sports, using computers, going for walks, crafts, etc. Being a new member of your Canadian family, you will be invited to do things with the family. Please feel free to join in and enjoy the fun times with your family. Your English will improve if you get out and are active. Of course, you need your quiet time too. It is OK to say, “I need some quiet time.”