International Students - Accommodation

GENERAL

Homestay is living with New Zealanders as a member of their family. Rangiora New Life School can arrange suitable homestay accommodation for international students.

Homestay accommodation is NOT the same as staying in a Hotel. You will be welcomed as a
member of the family and as such you have responsibilities to make the experience as pleasurable as possible for all. Remember it is a privilege, not a right to stay in a New Zealand home. To help you settle into life in New Zealand a little easier, do join in with activities which your Homestay family arranges.

All Homestay situations are carefully inspected by the Homestay Co-ordinator to ensure that not only is the home warm and inviting but also that the student will be given the best care possible.

Homestay accommodation includes: Breakfast, lunch and dinner, all linen and bedding
requirements, warmth, friendship and support.

Laundry is also done for the student.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

1. MEAL TIMES:
In every family there are usually set meal times when the family sits down together to eat and exchange news. It is expected that you will join the family at these times.
If for any reason you are going to be late for a meal you must telephone your Homestay
parents to tell them so. If you wish to be away for a meal, you must have your Homestay’s
permission to do this.
New Zealand food may be very different to what you are used to but please try everything. If
you decide that you don’t like some things tell your Homestay family so that they can give
you something different. Tell your Homestay mother what food you would like for your
lunch each day.
Please heed the advice of your Homestay mother concerning social skills such as table
manners.

2. TELEPHONE:
There is usually only one telephone in a New Zealand home for the use of all family members including yourself. Please limit the length of your telephone conversations to a maximum of 15 minutes. Should you wish to make a toll call, please either make the call ‘collect’ or ‘price required’. The Homestay family must be paid immediately after your call.
You may prefer to buy your own fax machine so that contact with your family overseas is
cheaper and easier.
It is important to ask your friends not to ring you after 9.00pm in the evening as most New
Zealand families go to bed early and do not want to be disturbed.

3. BATHROOM/TOILET:
These are used by all the family, so please make sure that you don’t spend too much time here. If you make a mess, please clean up after yourself to help O:International Students/Students/Homestay info sheet for Students your Homestay family. In most homes there is only a limited amount of hot water so please limit your daily showers to 10 minutes.

4. CHORES:
As a homestay student you are a member of the family, not a guest, and should therefore contribute to the upkeep of the family home the same as everyone else, e.g. washing dishes etc., making your bed and keeping your bedroom tidy.

5. DISCIPLINE:
As member of the family we expect you to live by the rules of the household. The following is a guide which should be negotiated with the Homestay family:

If you are going to be late arriving home, you MUST phone your Homestay and tell them
this.
If you wish to spend time with a friend overnight during the weekend, please discuss this with your Homestay parents and if they agree ensure that the contact name, address and telephone number has been given to them in case of an emergency. You are not to spend a night away from your Homestay without consulting the school and getting prior approval.

6. BEDTIME:
Most New Zealand families go to bed early and we would expect you to respect your family’s lifestyle by being quiet after they are in bed.

7. INSURANCE:
All international students will have full insurance cover for doctor, emergency dentist and hospital expenses. If you become sick, please ask your Homestay to take you to their doctor. Doctor’s and other medical bills must be paid by you. Keep your receipts and give them to the Homestay Co-ordinator so that a refund can be claimed.
Contact number for medical care: o0 313 8262
(this phone number will also tell you who is on duty for that weekend)

8. SPENDING MONEY:
Most New Zealand High School students would have no more than $20 per week to spend. It is important that International students have similar spending powers to avoid resentment amongst the other students. However it is realised that students may need extra spending money during school holidays for sightseeing and other activities.

OTHER ISSUES

WORK:
New Zealand Immigration regulations forbid holders of Student Visas to work for payment while in New Zealand.

SMOKING:
New Zealand, like most other countries, is becoming smoke free. It is illegal in New Zealand for cigarettes to be sold to anyone under the age of 16 year. Smoking is not permitted at School, or in your Homestay.

DRINKING:
Drinking alcohol is not allowed in a Homestay situation unless you are over the age of 18 and it has been approved by the family. It is illegal in New Zealand for anyone under the age of 18 years to be served alcohol or to be on licensed premises unless he is in the company of his partner or legal guardian.

MOTOR VEHICLES:
International Students must not purchase a car without prior approval of Rangiora New Life School and parents. According to Rangiora New Life School rules, only Year 13 students may own a car.

HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS:
There are 3 holiday breaks of 2 week’s during each year, in addition to the long summer break which occurs in December and January. If a student is staying in the Homestay during the holiday, the normal weekly payment will be due. However, if a student is absent during a holiday break, a retained fee of $20 per week will be paid to ensure that a room is kept for him/her.

DEALING WITH PROBLEMS

1. GENERAL:
Please discuss any problems which you may encounter during your stay with one of our families with the Dean of International Students who is trained to help. Do not leave a small
problem thinking we are too busy to help. Small problems can quite often become large problems which will ruin what will otherwise be a very pleasurable experience for all concerned.

2. PROBLEMS:
Often problems arise with Homestay families because they don’t understand how you feel about certain things. If you would like to spend some time by yourself, do tell them this, rather than just shutting yourself in your bedroom! Remember that most problems are caused by people not understanding each other, so please talk about these. Should a serious problem arise, after counselling both yourself and the family in an effort to fix the problem, you may be placed in a new homestay situation with no extra placement fee being charged.