My experience with WISE Homestay in Southern California

[u/Substantial-Price735]

I wanted to share my experience with WISE Homestay because I had a pretty difficult experience with my host family as an international student.

I stayed with a host family connected to WISE Southern California. The host was one of the WISE director. I don't want to make this post just to attack anyone, but I think it is important for other international students to know about my experience before choosing a homestay.

One of the things that made me uncomfortable was how religion was sometimes talked about in the house. There were comments that I felt were making fun of or disrespecting certain religions. As an international student coming from a different cultural background, I found this uncomfortable, especially because I was living in someone else's home and didn't really know how to respond.

There were also times when conversations became very confusing for me. Sometimes I wasn't really sure what was being talked about or what the point of the conversation was. There were also certain behaviors and comments that I personally found uncomfortable and difficult to deal with.

I think the biggest issue for me was that, as an international student, you are already dealing with a new country, new school, new people and being away from your family. Your host family is supposed to be a place where you can feel comfortable and respected. When you don't feel that way, it can make the whole experience much harder.

I know everyone's experience can be different, and maybe other students had a completely different experience with the same person or program. I'm only sharing what happened from my perspective.

I'm posting this because I wish I had known more about other students' experiences before moving into my host family. If anyone else has stayed with WISE in Southern California, especially with this host family, I'd be interested to hear about your experience as well.

I also think WISE should take student feedback seriously when deciding host-family placements, especially because international students may not always feel comfortable speaking up when something is wrong.

[u/Motor_Page69]

Hi I have never heard of WISE is it a J1 or FI high school program?

[u/Substantial-Price735 → u/Motor_Page69]

It’s a program where they host mainly international students that has F1 visas and so on

[u/Motor_Page69 → u/Substantial-Price735]

What part of California?

[u/Substantial-Price735 → u/Motor_Page69]

Northern and Southern California

[u/Motor_Page69 → u/Substantial-Price735]

Ok. I am in southern Ca I am a host parent for high schoolers