Host Family Experience

All participants on the Russian Overseas Flagship program live with Russian-speaking host families without exception. The homestay offers a satisfying cultural experience and complements the academic portion of the exchange. American Councils finds experienced local families to host students for the duration of their stay in Almaty, and student preferences are taken into consideration as much as possible during the pairing process.

Kazakhstanis are renowned for their hospitality and make great efforts to welcome guests and create a comfortable environment for their stay. Host families provide participants with two meals a day (breakfast and dinner) on weekdays, and three meals a day on weekends. Participants can also expect a private bedroom complete with a desk for studying in their homestay. Students in the past have frequently been invited to participate in family gatherings, attend weddings, and go on outings with their hosts. Kazakhstanis place high value on togetherness and family. Parents are very protective of their children and often feel the same sense of responsibility towards their host students.