Host families sought for French students

Host families and three-week “starter families” are needed for French students studying at the University of Maine at Augusta.

Organizers seek host families, roommates sharing an apartment, “friendship families” or “starter” families for next year. Families in Augusta or the surrounding area would be ideal, as students from the University of Western Brittany will need to travel to UMA multiple times a week, according to a news release from Chelsea Ray, associate professor of French and comparative literature, UMA.

Short-term “starter host families” to help a student for up to three weeks to get settled in Augusta are also needed. This might include driving the student to the bank to set up an account, helping navigate phone service choices, and driving to see apartments to meet potential roommates.

Families are paid a small stipend of $250 per month to cover expenses, and students are expected to share in the cost of family meals. The French students need to have their own room.

People who are looking for a roommate, this is another possibility; the students would share in the costs of renting.

Students arrive late August and depart early May. For those interested, but are unable to host for a full year, organizers may be able to find two interested families who wish to host (for example, September to December and January to May).

In addition, those who are not able to host but wish to help in some way, organizers are also looking for “friendship families” who would visit with the student each month and/or have the student come for occasional weekend visits for the first four months of the year.

For more information, contact Ray at [email protected] or 621-3487.

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