Here are testimonials from two undergraduate students and two graduate students who have been hosted recently in our program.
Dominik Walter, Undergraduate Student, Germany
"My name is Dominik Walter and I was a German exchange student at UCSD during the academic year 2005 to 2006. I participated in the Solana Beach host family program. Knowing that I would be picked up from the airport by my host family and then be able to stay with them during my first few days in California helped me to feel more secure before I even left Germany.
The prospect of spending a year in a foreign country made me somewhat nervous in the beginning, but with the help of my host family I quickly adjusted to my new living circumstances. Also my parents were glad to know that there was someone who would look after me and who they could call in an emergency while I was abroad. With the assistance of my host family I was able to open a bank account, get a cell phone and buy all the things I needed for my new apartment. Furthermore, this assistance was not limited to the first three days. Even throughout the year I could always go to them and ask for whatever I needed. They also invited me to several occasions like family dinners or church events, which gave me an authentic insight into the American way of life.
I always enjoyed spending time with my host family and was sad when I had to leave California. Even now, after three years, I am still in touch with them and am looking forward to meeting them again when I’ll go back to San Diego. Without the experience of being part of the host family program, I would have missed out on one of the most valuable experiences I had while being abroad. I would recommend the program to every foreign student who plans to study at UCSD.”
Olivia Rivorie, Undergraduate Student, France
The host family program to me…
I said many times to my wonderful host family that I would never have enough words to express my gratitude for all the love and aid they gave me during this year. Thanks to the Solana Beach program, I met my hosts and their extended family. They played a significant role in making my journey in San Diego one of the best years of my life. For that, they tremendously helped me to find my way in San Diego at the right beginning of the experience, which is the critical moment, and they led me into building a new life on the other part of the world. They did not hesitate to give: their help when needed, giving me a ride at almost one in the morning when I was in trouble, their advice, on the housing accommodation, the way I should live the experience, their assistance, to buy all the things I needed for my apartment, their affection from the beginning to the end. I also found in this program the family spirit, a house and people with whom I could celebrate events like my birthday or the typical American thanksgiving. They brought me into the American society and made me feel at home abroad. The hardest time of my journey? It was to leave people I grew to love…
Sara Zare, Graduate Student, Iran
“No doubt I could have survived in the USA without the host family program. However, with getting to know Americans through this program and spending time at American homes, experiencing Thanksgiving, Christmas, the 4th of July and other important American cultural milestones within them, I had an extraordinary experience in this country.
Not only did I learn a lot about America in particular, there was another part to my personal experience with these wonderful people. I always had a huge amount of interest in learning about religions other than Islam, which I have grown up with. My host family was very welcoming in letting me join their Sunday and small group worships. In addition to that, I have had chances to exchange ideas with some other international students with different beliefs, such as Christian, Buddhist or even atheist friends of mine.
This all together was a priceless experience for me. I can never put enough emphasis on how wonderful this experience was for me. I can encourage every single international student to enjoy the benefits of this program.
I feel as if I have my second family here. I was part of their happiest moments, and they always had an ear to listen to and a hand to help me, while I was dealing with different stages of the cultural shock or if there was any hardship in my life.”
Pongsakorn Teeraparpwong, Graduate Student, Thailand
"It was the first time for me to be parted from my parents for long time to a place very far away. My hosts gave me a very warm welcome when I first arrived at San Diego Airport. They had a lovely house and treated me like a part of their family. I never felt lonely with them around. My parents also felt relieved when they knew I was taken care of by nice and reliable persons. There were so many difficulties when I first arrived here. One of them was that my apartment was completely unfurnished. Nevertheless, my hosts helped me find furniture and helped me with numerous things till I can move in and live by myself.
I had a chance to experience a real American life and tried home-made American food. Together my hosts and I went to the beach, biked around the house, talked and exchanged our culture. It was one of the best times in my life. I've made a lot of friends from around the world and met a lot of nice people from their church. Although we stayed together for only a short period of time, we still keep in touch whenever we have a chance. The host family party every quarter is the thing that I look forward to the most. All things considered, my hosts home is always like my second home to me."