Family home stay in Salamanca

[BenLev]

Saludos a todos
If I do a family home-stay what will be the expectations of the family regarding my presence? Will I be given a key? If I am invited out to eat should I call the family to inform them I won't be there? What would be the typical meat meals? I like to eat almost everything but certain meat products (lengua, tripa, etc). Can I make a polite request to not be served those things? Will the family be concerned/upset if I spend little time at home (class for 7 hours per day).
Gracias de antemano
Ben from California
soon in Salamanca

[greytop]

I've never done that but I'd imagine you'll not be their first guest so they'll not expect your undivided attention. You could try asking the school if that's where you're going.

[Juanjo]

Saludos a todos
If I do a family home-stay what will be the expectations of the family regarding my presence? Will I be given a key? If I am invited out to eat should I call the family to inform them I won't be there? What would be the typical meat meals? I like to eat almost everything but certain meat products (lengua, tripa, etc). Can I make a polite request to not be served those things? Will the family be concerned/upset if I spend little time at home (class for 7 hours per day).
Gracias de antemano
Ben from California
soon in Salamanca

Don't worry! It will be fine and the family will be very welcoming and understanding. Just act with the normal courtesies any guest would display when staying in a friend's home.

Some years ago, I stayed with a family in Granada while attending a course and doing some research. They were fantastic: provided breakfast and an evening meal (taking care not to serve any shellfish- I warned them that I'm allergic to them:(), a comfortable room, left me alone when I wanted to be alone, invited me to join them to watch TV or go out to a bar, if I so wanted... and so on.

From a language confidence-building point-of-view it was great just discussing trivia and normal household and family topics- the type of things courses normally skip over quickly.

I recommend home-stays.

Juanjo

[ArualyEgroj]

if the family has a plastic carpet in your room, lots of knives and axes, a big refrigerator, and a biger oven,

dont mind to be unpolite. >:D