Expert: John J - 7/10/2009

Question
Hi John.

We have a Chinese student coming to stay with us for 6 months and I was hoping you could give me some tips on helping them settle in as well as diet etc... would it be appropriate to just offer toast and cerial for breakfast? Are there any things we could do to make his stay more comfortable. He is 17 and it is his first time away from home so we would like to do our very best to help him settle in.

ALSO

He will turn 18 about 2 weeks after he arrives, I was wondering, are there any special birthday traditions/gifts that would be appropriate.

Thanks

Answer
Hi, Mim

I gotta say he's very lucky to have you as his host family.

China has a vast land so its people's diets vary from place to place, but I think toast and cereal are fine. I personal like cereal with raisin. And if you have sliced bread, a simple ham, beef or chicken sandwich served with milk would be wonderful. Other options I now can think of include buttered bread, omelette or scrambled eggs, bacon and waffle. For lunch and dinner, some steamed rice once in a while would be nice. If you happen to have a Chinatown or Chinese/Asian super markets nearby, you may also take him there to let him pick his favorites. One of my friends in Australia told me diet is not a problem for Chinese in Australia. O, one more thing, I think Chinese tend to eat more than westerners somehow, and because Chinese don't think it's polite to ask for more, we sometimes end up hungry as a guest. So when he first arrives, please make sure you refill his dish for him until he declines you three times so that you know he means it. Then you'll have a idea how much he can eat. lol :)

While I lived in the States, the only complaint I had was the air conditioning. It was always too cold in summer and too hot in winter. I wonder if this is the case in Australia too.

I used to hear my friend complaining how boring the life was for her in Australia. I didn't share the same situation in US, because I knew where to make friends and we partied a lot and we also went to a lot of movies and city events. So maybe you can find him more opportunities to make friends and encourage him to participate in local activities.

As far as I know, in China we don't have any special adult ceremony when one turns 18. If you do have a ceremony, I think it'd be a most wonderful experience for him.

If the law permits, you may also show him how to drive, 'cuz not every family has a car in China.

Well, these are the answers I can think of now regarding your questions. Should you have more specific questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I'd be very happy to help you.

I am sure he is going to have a memorable experience with you and your family!

Sincerely,

John