I read a really lively article last night, by a host mum who had hosted foreign students for years and what she said, really rang true.
She had taken in students initially because of family circumstances and had been told by the language school, that the students are no trouble, just provide a room with a table and breakfast and a packed lunch and something simple like a baked potato and beans for tea! (no wonder English food has a poor reputation).
Anyway I think this was a few years ago as her first student was from Germany and hadn't seen food like she provided as they were (I think) from the wrong side of the iron curtain. Rather than a baked potato while this lady and her husband sat down to something appetising, she cooked chicken in a red wine sauce. Apparently the look on the German lady's face was of amazement as she had been living on the most basic of foods and this was a real treat to her.
I remember many of our students, most of them were under 20 and many of them were only 10 to 12 years as one school we hosted for six years on the trot, was a primary school.
Its interesting to see the habits of different cultures. I remember the younger students often had not had Indian food, something we Brits take for granted as part of our weekly cuisine. Many ate cereal for breakfast, but without milk although the ones who did have milk, then drank the remaining milk directly from their bowl, much to Lucy's horror!
Some would hardly eat anything at all during their stay, whereas others fully embraced the food and wanted to try everything going.
One thing we particularly noticed was that the French children and young adults loved our younger children and would play endlessly with them. They don't seem to feel shy or embarressed about larking around with them on the floor, painting, making masks, in fact more talented at child entertainment than I am!
