Ep 170 Student Homestay

A Conversation with Lukas Hahn

Let’s start the blog with the show notes for this Episode –

This episode started from a discussion with Ellen Bayens of theceliacscene.com for the April roundup episode 166 when she told me the story of a student from abroad, studying in Victoria in a homestay program, who was having difficulty as she required a gluten free diet.  Ellen assisted in solving the problem, but it brought so many other questions to my mind about homestay and a special diet.  On this episode I speak with Lukas Hahn, Manager – Homestay Program, Greater Victoria School District, who helps organize both the students coming to study in Victoria, as well as the families they will stay with.  Lukas gives us a great perspective on the opportunities hosting a student gives a family and large community.  We discuss what a host family is required to do, some of the responsibilities and some of the perks.  We talk about the practical experiences of a foreign student on a gluten free diet, as well as how families who are already gluten free can be invaluable to the program.  
https://www.studyinvictoria.com/ 

Sue’s Websites and Social Media –

Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com

Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com

Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast

Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA

Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com

Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com

Instagram – @suesgfbaking

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL

Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com

Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com

My Thoughts –

My brief experience with homestay was as an alternate family in the Rotary International Student Exchange Program.  We were the family who stepped in when the host family had to go away for a few days, or something came up that made hosting difficult.  We hosted two students very briefly, but it gave me a taste of the program and its many benefits.

One benefit that I wasn’t expecting was the food.  Our students came prepared to make a meal for us from their home countries.  This was a thrill, and the conversion to gluten free was relatively simple.  There was also a barbeque for the host families where a few of the students prepared special dishes.  I suppose I noticed the food more, because I was gluten free.

I thought it was all the more interesting in discussion with Lukas that as a gluten free host family, we would serve what we might find common, by way of recipes, or Canadian gluten free brands, but much of this would be new to the visiting student.  In turn, the student could tell us what was popular in gluten free where they lived.

I think I speak for many by saying I am anxious to plan a trip to somewhere different, and maybe exotic.  Time will come, but not just now.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a family in another country who was gluten free and could show us around, to all their favourite spots, and take us in a grocery store to purchase all the best gluten free they have to offer.  That might be my dream vacation – the world is pretty big, but I can see how hosting a homestay student makes it just that much more manageable and exciting!