Posts Tagged ‘Homestay’

Canadian Host Family : About Manners and Meals in Canada

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Going to Canada? The advices below will help you with meals and manners there! :-)

Meals
-Food in Canada can be different from the one you are used to. Try to sample everything, and if you don’t like something, say it (politely and tactfully) to your hosts.

There are 3 meals in Canada:
Breakfast: usually taken between 7 and 8 am, it is milk or coffee, with toasts and marmalade or cereals and milk, and orange juice. It is an important meal, don’t skip it!
Lunch: It is usually a quick, light meal. Usually, it will be a sandwich, a cake, a fruit and a drink.
Dinner: Generally taken between 5 and 7 pm, it is the most important meal of the day. Usually, the whole family meets, and you will likely have fruit, meat and vegetables, and a dessert. This is the occasion to practice your English or your French!

-If your family is not from an anglosaxon origin (70% of the Canadian population), the food will likely be influenced by their origin.

-If you want to cook a traditional meal from your country to your Canadian host family, ask them the permission, and also how to use electronics, since they can be different from the one you are used to.

-If you are not going to be home for a meal, inform your host family.

Manners

Always be polite with your family: use “please” and “thanks” when you ask something.
Communicate with your Canadian hosts: if you need something,  you will have to ask them since they can’t know otherwise.
Always tell your host when you will be home or out, so that they don’t worry.
Upon arrival, ask their hosts about their habits: when the television can be watched, in which rooms you can go or not…
Don’t isolate yourself. Since Canadian people are really respectuous of others’ private life, if you shut yourself in your room they will think you don”t want to be disturbed. If you are tired, just tell them you need to rest a little.
Don’t expect your hosts to come to you to speak, watch TV… They will expect you to come spontaneously.
If you want to bring a friend over, first ask to your hosts.

Don’t hesitate to share your own advices with us!

Life in Germany: Useful Vocabulary to Travel in Germany

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

You will stay in Germany for a while. Here are some useful sentences and words to use while there!

Meeting people
How are you? Wie geht es Ihnen?
I’m happy to meet you! Es freut mich, Ihre Bekanntschaft zu machen.
Did you travel well? Haben sie die Reise gut überstanden?
I travelled well. Die Reise war gut.
You have a very nice house. Sie haben ein schönes Zuhause.

First practical information
Where is the bathroom please? Wo ist das Badezimmer bitte?
Could you show me my room, please? Können Sie mir mein Zimmer zeigen?
I really like my room. Mein Zimmer gefällt mir sehr.
I’d like to phone in [your country]. Ich möchte in [your country] anrufen.
I called the wrong number. Ich habe mich verwählt.
The line is busy. Die Leifung ist besetzt.

Meals
When do we have breakfast? Wann frühstucken wir?
When do we have lunch? Wann essen wir zum Mittag?
When do we have dinner? Wann essen wir zum Abend?
We eat around 1 pm. Wir essen um (gegen) 13 Uhr.
Can I help you? Kann ich Ihnen helfen?
I’m going to dress the table. Ich decke den Tisch.
I’m really hungry. Ich bin sehr hungrig.
I’m thirsty. Ich bin durstig.
It’s excellent. Es schmeckt köstlich.
Thank you, I’m not hungry anymore. Vielen Dank, ich bin satt.
Could you prepare me a packed lunch (for excursions)? Können Sie mir einen kalten Imbis zubereiten.

Health

I’m not feeling really well. Ich fühle mich nicht wohl.
I’ve got an headache. Ich habe Kopfweh.
My teeth hurt. Ich habe Zahnschmerzen.
I have caught cold. Ich habe mich erkältet.
He has a cold. Er ist verschnupft.
He has a lot of fiever. Er hat hohes Fieber.
I have a sore throat. Ich habe Halsschmerzen.

Shops
Can I help you? Kann ich Ihnen helfen?
I’m just looking. Ich sehe mich nur um.
Can I try it? Kann ich es probieren?
It doesn’t fit me. Das gefällt mir nicht.
It’s cheap. It is billig.
It’s too costly. Es ist zu teuer.

Miscellaneous
Where is the post office? Wo is das Postamt?
Where can I change money? Wo kann ich Geld wechseln?
Can you give change this bill for coins? Können Sie mir wechseln?
How do I go to [a place]? Wie komme ich nach [a place]?