Host Journals: Jill and Evelyn Welcome New Students With Southern Hospitality

On a Sunday in Marietta at the foot of Kennesaw Mountain, new homestay hosts Jill and Evelyn welcomed three international students to their new home away from home for the duration of their studies with English language school ELS Atlanta. The students had traveled from Brazil, Japan, and Saudi Arabia, and despite a little jet lag, they were happy to finally start getting to know the people they would spend the next several months with. And in true Southern fashion, the host pair had prepared a food-filled welcoming to make their new friends feel right at home.

Jill and Evelyn live in separate houses on several acres of land where they keep horses, tend a small orchard and enjoy other outdoor activities. Well traveled, Evelyn's home is full with brilliant decor and relics from a diverse array of cultures and eras, and Jill's welcoming abode is just as charming with elegant and comfortable spaces that make you want to stay and listen to stories from her wealth of knowledge about local and US history. Jill rents homes on her property and Evelyn is a professional personal chef, originally from the Carribean. Both women knew as soon as they learned about Mark's Homestay that hosting was something they wanted to do, and they knew that it could affect everyone's lives in a very positive way.

Learn more about hosting an international student in your home.

In the living room the group enjoyed appetizers and talked about their home countries. Although the students were new English speakers, there was much to talk about, and their patient hosts were glad to help with grammar and pronunciation. "This is one of the biggest reasons I chose homestay," said one of the students. "I know my English will improve a lot faster living with them."

One student, Shoma, was especially excited about the outdoor court on the property where he could play basketball, his favorite sport. And Cleia, a young woman from Brazil, was thrilled that she would be able to enjoy more outdoor activities. They were all excited to be able to experience American culture, and that Jill and Evelyn would be planning several trips and cultural outings to take them on during their stay.

Learn more about how you can experience American culture, learn English and make new friends!

After appetizers, dinner was served. A buffet style meal with delicious chicken and broccoli - classic southern food. Jill explained that it is a tradition in the south that people serve themselves, buffet style. Jill and Evelyn invited each person sitting around the table to say a blessing from their own religion or culture. Then during dinner everyone shared about their own customs from home - foods they eat, cultural traditions, some that differed and some that were very similar. The Saudi Arabian student explained that in his culture, pets don't live inside the house, and he would have to get used to having Jill's small dog around. They all agreed that each culture's traditions were not better or worse than the other, but simply different ways of living.

Jill and Evelyn are one of many wonderful, welcoming and generous hosts in the Atlanta area who are helping to provide students with wonderful homestay experiences and positive cultural exchange, and we commend them for their hospitality and the difference that they will make in the lives of the students they welcome into their homes!

Stay tuned for our next story from Host Journals to hear more about how hosting international students brings together cultures while providing unique and positive experiences!

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