Testimonials

"Cindy has become such a blessing to our family. She has started teaching us French and we plan to take the family to visit her in Belgium. What an incredible exchange this year has been and will be for our family!" - A CHI Host Family in California

"We welcomed Bianca as a member of our family from the beginning and she remains that way. We absolutely love her. She is able to take care of the children in a loving and respectful way. Our children have fun with her and we trust her 100% with the care and wellbeing of all four of our children" - A CHI Host Family in Virginia

"We really saw the level of help and individual care that is provided. The staff keeps in constant contact and kept us informed of each step. I think that's one of the things CHI Au Pair USA does best. The communication is always amazing, and that's one of the most important factors to us, and a testament to the organization of the program and the diligence and care of the individual people" - Wishek Host Family

I want to say thank you for everything and I'm so glad to be an exchange student in your program! My host family and my school are perfect and even if I miss my natural family, I'm going to miss being an American teenager. Thank you so much! You are the best program ever! This experience is the best one I've ever had and I will never forget. - Federica, Italy

We are hosting Laura of Spain this year. She is just about the most precious 16 year old young woman a host family could ever wish to host...and we know from experience as she is our 16th student! Laura sometimes gets her words jumbled up. She informed me that she wanted to "carve a pancake". When I looked at her with a puzzled look, she said, "you know Mom, one of those big orange things." Then I understood...PUMPKIN! She topped it off with, "And I want to put a candy inside to make it light up"! CANDLE! We laughed so hard and made one more wonderful memory. Laura volunteers at the Humane Society of Redmond's Thrift & Gifts Store. She operates the cash register, prices clothing and puts the pieces out on the floor, helps some of the Hispanic folks who come in with their questions and straightens up as needed throughout the store. She is quick to help out here at home and is maintaining a B+ grade at Redmond High School. Thanks so much CHI. This is an amazing year with a top notch addition to our family. Laura is an amazing person and we just love her. - A CHI Host Family in Oregon

My family and I first started hosting AYP students in 1989. My children were young, 5, 7 and 10. We enjoyed it so much. Our first CHI AYP student was Koichi from Japan and he has been a member of our family ever since. He is now married and has 2 beautiful children, one which he named after my daughter in law Julie. Koichi came back and went to college here near our home and spent the next 8 years in America. He spent many holidays, birthdays and celebrations with us. He is just a part of our family. He has come back to visit and stay with us many times throughout the years. We have hosted so many students over the years and they are all very special and hold a place in our hearts. - A CHI Host Family in California

I had one of the best experiences in my life! Not only was it wonderful to meet [my host family] and get experience teaching English, I was able to practice my French and gain more experience at listening to the French language. Immersing oneself in a different culture surrounded by a different language is a really great way to learn! - Tracy, traveled to France

I loved the program. Living with a host family really did give me and up close and personal view of what it is like to live in Italy. I experienced so much more than a tourist, because I was able to spend so much time with native Italians, not only with my host family but also with their friends and relatives. Also, I improved greatly in my Italian skills, because my host family wanted to spend half of the day speaking English and the other half speaking Italian. Overall I am extremely glad that I participated in the program, and I definitely have a family (and their friends) in Italy who would be happy to welcome me back at any time! - Kyle, traveled to Italy

My trip to China was an eye-opening and enjoyable experience. Personally I really liked learning how people from a very different part of the world lead their lives. So different from what I'm used to! Immersion in a foreign country wasn't easy, but was ultimately worth it. The second language I learned is very useful. My host families were very nice to me. They really understood that I was not accustomed to their way of doing things and tried to make me feel comfortable. They also taught me a lot about Chinese culture, something I enjoyed very much. -Jonathan, traveled to China

Thank you to our wonderful host families. We all just had a great time with you this year. We know that the students from Naga will have memories to last a life time. They were all loved so much by you all and they all had so much to say about you and your families to us. Thank you again for all you did. - Teacher Coordinator, WA

Our group was truly amazing we had a great group of kids and wonderful host families. One of our activities that we did with our group was visit Hillcrest Elementary School. It was absolutely wonderful. All the children loved making origami with the exchange students. We were able to visit 6 different classes. Our students sang a song for them and played with the children. Seeing their smiling faces as the students interacted with them really touched our hearts. Our farewell party was just as wonderful the students danced and sang for their host families and it was truly magical to see them is such wonderful spirits. We are looking forward to having Naga High school come back next spring. Getting to know all of these students and the memories that we shared will be with us and their host families for the rest of our lives. - Teacher Coordinator, WA

Everything was great! After this program I'm more independent and outspoken. I would tell future participants to make sure to take every opportunity to understand and participate. - Craig, studied in Belgium

After this program I'm more mature and more able to understand cultural differences. My advice for future participants is to do it! - Stewart, studied in Spain

I would definitely recommend this program to a friend. It is a unique experience and helps you mature and grow. Be willing to try anything! - Colleen, studied in Italy

My name is Matt Ma, from China. I started my internship in a waste & recycling company located in Denver Colorado in August 2009. It was a great honor being selected as an Internship Program participant and being placed into an incredibly honorable company. I want to extend my great and sincere appreciation and thanks to Culture Homestay International that introduced this program into China and many other countries. I was privileged to get to know the program and eventually became a member of it. I actually know so many friends in CHI so well and I have also visited CHI's headquarter office myself. I feel so happy to meet them and so grateful for all their help and kindness. CHI assisted with my visa documentations and gave orientations and found me housings and dealt with my medcare insurance and many Website Content many rest. I am really proud for being with you extraordinary people and so thankful for all your support all the time along the way! - Matt, China

CHI is a great agency that we have built a working relationship with to fill our positions over the past two seasons. Their constant communication and immediate responses to voice mail or email is much appreciated! For Spring 2010, CHI filled 30 positions with students from Thailand. These students have been a pleasure to meet and their work ethic is outstanding. They work as Stand Attendants in our Concessions Department. Daily duties include customer service, taking food and beverage orders from guests, fulfilling orders and cooking the food in the stand. Some students have also been placed in our Suites Kitchen as prep cooks. These students assist with the preparation of Luxury Suite holder's food orders for event days. All students always give 110% in any job they are doing! - Cincinnati SportService

We love what Work and Travel adds to our organization. The students work hard and do a great job. We welcome them for 3 seasons a year from about 10 different countries." -Chickies and Petes Crabhouse and Sports Bar

I am back home, after the best summer ever! Thank you, really a huge THANK YOU for everything! It was amazing and great and wonderful and... I have no words, it was perfect! Everything was better than I planned - the people, job, city, travel! I hope there is a chance for us to come next summer! Thanks to all CHI team for taking care of us! Hugs to the best CHI coordinator and I hope to see you soon! -Doina, Moldova

My American experience is almost at the final point....I have only one week and 4 days left of working...and to be honest with you I cannot believe that in such a short time I'm going to be back at home. I just write this email in order to say that for me this was the time of my life. Once back in my country I will advise every student to take this chance and to come here because it's a lesson of life. I want to thank you for everything! -Raluca, Romania

On top of skills such as taking care of myself, my planning and organization skills have definitely been put to the ultimate test. From planning buses, to accommodation, to subways, to tours and itineraries, I have done the lot, and coming out of it the sense of achievement is overwhelming. I also now feel the confidence to be able to do this again. I know I can take care of myself, I know I can be away from home, I know I can see what I want to see and go where I want to go, and even though all the skills I have used I had before I left the UK, I had never, and probably would have never use them to their full potential before I came here. Part of me wants to thank America, for taking me in, for accepting me into the country and allowing me to become the person that I have become in such a small space of time. This experience for me has been life changing, and I will never forget it as long as I live. When I am old and grey, I will still reminisce on this trip and annoy my grandkids time and time again with my stories from Philadelphia in 2010. I would encourage anyone to do what I have done. It is an unbelievable experience, and you only live once. -Samantha, United Kingdom