My Homestay Experience.

I am Jonne Bannink, a 22 year old Hotel and Event Management student from the Netherlands.

In September 2015 I started following the Hotel and Event Management course at Tio University of Applied Sciences in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

During the summer of 2016, I did my first internship. I always wanted to go to Australia, and via the internship agency ‘Stagehuis’ I found a work placement in Adelaide.

Via the same internship agency, I came in contact with AHN Homestay in Adelaide.  After sending my profile and some conversations via email, the homestay was organized; I was excited to meet my host family.

Of course when you are going to a country for the first time, you don’t know what to expect and I was especially curious about the family I was going to live with. My host Mother picked me up from the Adelaide Airport. We recognised each other from pictures on Facebook.

The first day she showed me around in Adelaide and Glenelg, where I was going to do my internship at Stamford Grand Adelaide.

In the house I had my own room and own bathroom, everything was taken care of very well. The first week felt like it was normal to be there and to live with this family. It turned out we had the same thoughts and interests; it felt like I’d known them for years.

Every weekend they took me somewhere and showed me around.  We went to feed kangaroo’s, visited many winery’s, went out for dinner, went shopping together and I joined family dinners. This all was amazing. They were always making sure I had a good time. We enjoyed drinking wine, G&T’s and Frangelico together.  We also loved watching movies.

During the week I was working in the hotel from 9.00 am to 5.00pm. When I came home around 6.15pm, there were always delicious snacks and a glass of wine waiting for me.

We talked, laughed and shared memories with each other. As I am a big fan of animals, it was very nice they had a dog, Tiger. It was always very nice to see her when I came home and I liked playing with her.

I really enjoyed my time at Stamford Grand Adelaide and due to this particular family, my whole stay and experience in Australia was amazing. I like the fact we still have contact with each other every now and then. I hope to see them soon again. I couldn’t wish for a better family to stay with.