<Homestay>
Homestay is similar to the Korean concept of boarding. Students pay a weekly homestay fee, and the host family provides a room, meals, and other basic living necessities. Most homestays provide one room per student, though in some cases two students may share a room at a reduced rate.
Types of Homestay and Their Advantages and Disadvantages
Homestay families include Kiwi families (New Zealand locals) as well as Korean families and families from other countries such as India, China, and the Philippines. Students coming to New Zealand to study English often prefer Kiwi families, but each type has its own advantages and disadvantages as outlined below. It’s important to compare your options carefully and choose the homestay that best suits your needs.
| Type | Price (per week) | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Kiwi Homestay | $350-420 | Using English in daily life Experiencing a new culture Guaranteed independent living Lower costs compared to Korean homestays | 1. Cultural dissonance 2. Difficulty adapting to food due to different eating habits and cultures 3. Feeling of isolation stemming from individualism 4. Communication difficulties |
| Korean Homestay | $500-600 | 1. Cultural affinity 2. Maintaining good health with three Korean-style meals a day 3. Detailed, attentive care 4. Quick adaptation to life abroad | 1. No opportunities to use English 2. No opportunities to experience new cultures 3. High homestay costs |
| Other foreign families | $350~420 | 1. Using English in everyday life 2. Experiencing a culture different from that of Kiwis 3. Lower costs 4. A sense of affinity as fellow foreigners | 1. Different eating habits 2. English pronunciation mixed with mainland pronunciation |
Facilities of the homestay
The basic things provided in the student room include beds, duvets and bedding, wardrobes, desks, chairs, bookcases, etc. Other household appliances and facilities necessary for daily life will be shared with the homestay family. The minimum temperature in Auckland in winter is about 1 degree, which is warmer than in Korea, but the rooms are very cold because the houses are usually built of wood and are often not well heated. Living rooms are usually heated by warming the air with heaters, but private rooms are recommended to use electric blankets rather than heaters due to the risk of fire. In some cases, homestays provide it, but in some cases, individuals purchase it themselves.
Homestay Meals
Breakfast and dinner are served during the week, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served on weekends or holidays. Lunch on weekdays is usually purchased in the cafeteria on campus or at restaurants around the school. All homestays have to follow the rules of the family, so dinner times are fixed. If you are late for dinner, it is basic etiquette to inform your homestay family at least one hour in advance so that they don’t have to wait for dinner.
Breakfast: It usually consists of toast, cereal, and milk, and is usually prepared and eaten by each family member in the morning.
Dinner: Local dishes like potatoes, steaks, vegetables, and sausages bring the whole family together to sit down and eat together. Dinner time is a time for each person to share their daily life, and even if you lack English skills, trying to participate in the conversation will help your English and homestay life. Setting the table before meals, tidying up the table after meals, or helping with simple dishes is one of the ways to strive for a happy homestay life as a homestay family member.
*Korean food at homestays : In the case of Korean ramen and sweets, we ask the homestay family to make space in the kitchen cupboard and store them separately for snacks. However, we do not recommend foods with a strong unique smell, such as kimchi or salted fish.
*Cook your own food : Houses in New Zealand are built of wood, so they are sensitive to fire. When using kitchen utensils yourself, be sure to get permission from the homestay family in advance. Many houses are made of ceramic glass soleplates instead of gas stoves like in Korea, so be careful not to scratch or break them, and be sure to clean them up after use.
If you move out of your homestay
Be sure to tell your homestay family two weeks before your scheduled move-out date.
Talking in advance is called ‘notice’, and usually a two-week notice is the standard. The two-week notice is a period when you are looking for a new homestay and preparing to leave, but for the homestay family, it is also a time to find a new student, so it is recommended to keep the room clean because new people may come to see the room after giving the notice. Even if you move earlier than planned after a two-week notice, you will have to pay for the homestay for two weeks. Please be sure to return the key, and if you lose the key, you may be asked to change the entire keybox for home safety reasons and ask for a fee. When you leave the room, clean it up and come out.
Flat refers to the form of traces in our country. Usually, in a house with about 2-4 rooms, each room is used separately and the kitchen, bathroom, living room, and other spaces are shared. In areas where rental costs are expensive, such as apartments in the city, two people share a room, and in this case, it is called Share.
Flat Cost
It varies from region to region, but in general, it is $250~350 per week per room in downtown Auckland, and $150~250 in other rural areas. Depending on the flat, utility bills such as electricity, telephone, and water bills may be included, and items for shared use such as toilet paper and detergents may also be included. Therefore, it is recommended to ask and check carefully before moving in.
When to get a foreign flatmate
In the case of foreign flats, there are areas located in the city, but most of them are located in areas that are far from the city, so transportation costs can be a burden. However, it helps to learn English and learn the culture of another country. Useful sites for finding foreigner flats are as follows. After registering as a member of the site, you can search by region, price, etc. you want, compare the details carefully, and then contact us directly.
– TradeMe: www.trademe.co.nz
When to get a Korean flatmate
You can get Korean flats through cafes or community websites that are mainly used by Korean residents and international students. Most of the flats are located in the city, so you can reduce transportation costs, and you can live comfortably because your eating habits and etiquette are similar, but the disadvantage is that you have fewer opportunities to socialize with Koreans and use English. Most students go to the site below and use the flat information posted on the bulletin board.
– Korea Post: www.nzkoreapost.com
– Facebook Group New Zealand Story: www.facebook.com/groups/nzstory
Renting is the same format as rent in Korea, where New Zealand usually pays a weekly rental fee. Although there is a small initial cost such as a security deposit, you can rent a house near the city and find a flatmate. In the case of apartments in the city, the rental fee usually includes only water bills, and electricity, telephone, and internet costs are paid separately. There are fully furnished rentals and tableware, and there are also rentals that are fully furnished and have no furniture such as beds, sofas, TVs, etc., so you can choose according to your needs.
