This year, we have had so many wonderful hosts who have welcomed students into their homes and so much positive feedback from our students. It has been lovely reading the comments, reflections and memories of their stays in Jersey. This made it a difficult task to choose a winner for our host of the year award.
After much discussion we have selected Carol & Mick De La Cour, as this year’s winners. Our final decision was based on number of factors; number of weeks hosting, age ranges hosted, flexibility and student feedback.
Carol & Mick have hosted with us since 2019, hosting teenage and adult students. This year, they hosted a mixture of students; male and female, ranging from 13 to 65 years old, over a period of 22 weeks. They have been extremely flexible hosts and were able to help with a few emergency placements too.
Carol enjoys cooking delicious dinners and they like to sit and chat with the students. One of their teenage students cooked dinner for them one evening to say thank you, which they were very appreciative of. With the adult students, they have formed some strong friendships and are hoping to travel to Germany next year to visit two of their new friends.
It has been a pleasure working with them both and we look forward to doing so again next year!
Carol commented on her own experiences of hosting:
“When we first started home stay we didn’t know what to expect. We took our first tentative steps with a lovely young girl from Paris. Not long after we went into lock down. This year has been totally different. We’ve had a revolving front door as it has literally been one group out and another in. We now host two or three at a time and find it really enjoyable getting to know them. It’s great to watch them interact and make friends that hopefully they will keep for a long time. We would urge anyone with the time and room to have a go.”
