Living with a host family in Hong Kong

A hotel shows a visitor the city. A host family shows how the city lives. For a British student, a homestay in Hong Kong is one of the most direct ways to understand a place that is both Chinese and international.

Home life

Hong Kong homes are small by British standards. A family of four may live comfortably in a flat that a British visitor would think suited to two. Space is used with care, shoes come off at the door, and a guest quickly learns to be tidy.

Many families speak Cantonese at home and use English at work or school, and many also speak Mandarin. A student may hear all three in a single day. A few words of Cantonese, beginning with 'm goi' for please and thank you, are always well received.

Food

Meals are shared. Dishes are placed in the middle of the table and everyone helps themselves, with the host often serving the guest first. Weekend yum cha, a long family meal of tea and dim sum, is the occasion a visiting student should not miss.

The city

With an Octopus card, a student can use the MTR, buses, trams and the Star Ferry across the harbour. The city is also greener than its skyline suggests. Country parks cover around forty per cent of the territory, and a family may well suggest a weekend hike or a trip to an outlying island.

Being a good guest

Bring a small gift from home. Offer to help, even if the offer is refused. Tell the family about any allergy or dietary need before you arrive. Try everything once. Hosts remember curiosity and good manners far longer than they remember fluency.