What is to be a homestay family?

Posted on by MSHomestay

Karla and me, Yesica, came to Montreal in 2008 to study English and French and lived with a local Homestay Family for six months. We can say that we lived the most incredible experience an international student could ever live!  We did not only meet a Canadian family but we met OUR Family as we are still in touch with them and we meet them a few times per month. After 11 years, they are always present for us!  We MS Homestays because we want to help more students to live the same experience we lived by offering personalized accommodation options according to their preferences.

Today, we want to introduce you to Sandra Roux. She has been part of our Homestay Families for many years. We can say she is an excellent host and she has also been a great mom to all the international students she has hosted. You can have the whole cultural experience of living in Canada with her. She speaks English, French, Italian, Norwegian and Creole.

Here is a brief message she wrote for all the students who are thinking about staying in her home:

“I am a kind and fun single mom and I have a very beautiful house in Montreal 15 min away from downtown and right beside all services, including bus in front of the house. My son and I love having fun and enjoying outdoor activities. I am a great entertainer and I would love to to make you discover Quebec and more on weekends. We would be happy to welcome you in a big furnished bedroom with all included: heat, TV, cable, Wi-Fi, desk, etc. In the house you will have unlimited access to kitchen, bathroom, laundry and swimming pool. The neighborhood is very calm with a lot of families and the riverside is to a 3 min walk distance where you can go relax by the water, bicycle or jog. I do A LOT of cooking! I cook everyday and I have a “one moth plan”. It means that I cook a different dish everyday and you won’t eat twice the same in one month.  I am very careful to cook balanced food, that is very important in our family. I will also give you several snacks a day in case you are a little hungry during the day. Living in our family is more than living in a homestay. It is having a full Canadian experience and really get in touch with the country, the culture and the life here.”

During the last semester Nasato Magani, a Japanese exchange student attending McGill University, stayed with Sandra and her son for six months. They had a great time hanging out in Montreal and its surroundings.

Hi Karla! I already arrived at Japan. I had a good staying in Montreal. Thanks to you, thank you for supporting me!!

We are so happy that other student had an amazing experience with his homestay during his exchange program in Montreal. If you are interested in living the Homestay Family experience and if you are looking for accommodation in Montreal or Toronto, contact us directly through our website. You can also find us on Facebook or Instagram as mshomestays.

 

¿Cómo hemos mejorado para brindarle el mejor servicio de hospedaje a nuestros estudiantes?

Posted on by MSHomestay

Ya casi es fin de año y en MS Homestays estamos muy orgullosos de haber culminado otro año lleno de experiencias con nuestros estudiantes, lamentablemente cada año hay que decir adiós pero también recibimos nuevos estudiantes preparados para vivir la aventura de estudiar en Montreal.

Como cada año nos gusta evaluar qué hemos hecho bien, cómo hemos mejorado, qué nos falta por lograr y cómo podemos brindarle a más estudiantes una experiencia inolvidable. Por eso nos gustaría conocer tu opinión y mejorar nuestros servicios para ti y más estudiantes.

Vivir en otro país es un reto y una experiencia única pero también conlleva una serie de responsabilidades, por eso año tras año nos dedicamos a apoyar a nuestros estudiantes en todo su trámite de hospedaje y ser sus guías en la ciudad.

Este año lanzamos nuestra guía de bienvenida, la cual incluye tips para que nuestros estudiantes puedan adaptarse más fácilmente a la ciudad, y también para conocer sobre los trámites que debe hacer al llegar a Montreal, tales como usar el transporte público, obtener una cuenta bancaria, etc.

Además, mejoramos la rapidez en la respuesta a nuestros clientes y prospectos a través de nuestros diferentes canales de comunicación: Facebook, Instagram y Whatsapp. Para nosotros no hay nada más importante que poder ayudarte en cualquier duda antes, durante y después de tu estadía en Montreal.

De igual manera en MS Homestays sabemos perfectamente que la seguridad es primero y buscar un alojamiento en el extranjero no es una tarea fácil, menos online, sin embargo, para darte mayor seguridad en tu proceso podemos hacer una videollamada y mostrarte nuestros alojamientos sin compromiso, puedes buscarnos en nuestras redes sociales personales para conocernos un poco más y saber quién está detrás de los mensajes, llamadas y correos que recibes, en MS Homestays nos preocupamos por tener una relación cercana con nuestros clientes. De igual manera, puedes verificar el registro de la empresa directamente en el Registre de entreprise du quebec. Es muy común que un alto porcentaje de estudiantes en Montreal sean estafados online para llegar a un alojamiento falso.

¿No sabes con quién te hospedarás en tu departamento compartido? ¿No estás seguro si te vas a llevar bien con tus roomates? En MS homestays sabemos cuán importante es para ti encontrar a los roomates ideales, es obvio querer vivir con personas que compartan los mismos intereses y gustos. Por eso, te mostramos un perfil que muestra los gustos e intereses de tus roomates para que los conozcas antes de llegar a Montreal. Además, al rentar con nosotros sólo pagas los días que te hospedas y no el mes completo en departamentos 100% equipados, olvídate de estar comprando utensilios de cocina, toallas, artículos de limpieza, etc. ¡Ojalá hubiera conocido una agencia así cuando nosotras venimos de intercambio!

Recientemente adquirimos un nuevo departamento en una de las zonas más trendy e icónicas de Montreal: Plateau. Es importante, y no nos dejarán mentir las personas que se han hospedado con nosotros, todos nuestros departamentos y homestays están ubicados en zonas seguras y cercanas al transporte público.

Finalmente, sabemos que estudiar en el extranjero es para viajar, experimentar y conocer, por eso, a través de nuestras redes sociales siempre estamos a tus órdenes, te brindamos asesoría en cualquier situación que se te pudiera presentar como problemas con tu homestay, tips y lugares que puedes visitar.

Nos gustaría conocer tu opinión a través de reviews en nuestra página de Facebook. ¡Tu voz hace la diferencia! Búscanos como @mshomestays en Facebook e Instagram.

MS Homestays believes in creating lifelong stories

Posted on by MSHomestay

MS Homestays exists thanks to the first-hand experience we had quite a few years ago living with a Homestay Family in Montreal. Our experience inspired us to create MS Homestays and we decided to start this company with the desire to help each person coming to study in Montreal to live the same incredible experience we lived.

Recently, our host family Nathalie and Eric sent us a message right after the student they hosted for 3 months left their home, and we would like to share their testimony with you as it reflects perfectly that our desire is becoming true.

“Talking about Mayu, it was our first experience hosting a foreign student, for a long period of time and even if we are good-willing people, we were wondering and hoping, how would it go with a total welcomed stranger, from a different culture. 

And it went beyond our expectations.

By the pictures Nathalie may have sent you, during these last 3 months, you may have noticed that we decided to involve Mayu systematically in any activities we did (each time she was available and she was very eager and willing), above and beyond what we are paid for, like if she was a member of the family. 

This experience was very enriching, for every single member of the family and Mayu called Nathalie, her Canadian mother and she considers us, like her other family. It was so delightful to have her with us and everybody woke up (without exception), early at 5 AM, last Sunday, with big hugs and tears to bid Mayu farewell, on her return to Japan. 

She was so kind, respectful, family-oriented and playful. She spoiled us with so special ”Made in Japan” gifts. She left us a 3-page letter to thank us as a family and also expressed her gratitude and very individually, to each and every member of the family.

We had a videophone call, this week upon her return in Japan and she definitely wants to come back to Canada.

You do more than accommodating students, coming to a visit and experiment a new country, you are an active facilitator in creating life stories and possibly, lifelong friendships beyond borders.

We look forward to a new, different and also enriching experience with other students and we thank you for trusting us, with these young lives coming to an unknown territory, whether it is geographic or/and life-related.

Be blessed abundantly!