Dinners in US Homes

October through January

Ann Arbor area families invite International students to visit their home as a special dinner guest sometime during the months of November, December, January or February. (To learn about being a host family, please click here.)

This is a great opportunity to experience U.S. family life and enjoy a night out with good food, interesting conversation, and nice people.

You will be a guest, so this event is free of charge.

This event is co-sponsored cooperatively with the International Center at the University of Michigan.

Deadline to apply is November 20th (for November-January dinners).

If you cannot be placed immediately, you will be put on a waiting list and may not receive your invitation until December or January. Spaces are limited, but we will try to place everyone who applies by November 20th if possible. (Thank you for being patient!)

Student Guidelines

Please read Student Guidelines carefully to prepare you for the experience.

1. The host family will be responsible for contacting you to arrange a visit. If they leave a voicemail or e-mail message, please respond promptly.
2. Try to schedule the visit for a time when you will be able to enjoy dinner and conversation with the host family without being rushed.
3. If for any reason you cannot attend the scheduled dinner, call your host family as soon as possible! There is no reason to be embarrassed about this; it is far better to cancel the plans than to not show up when your host is expecting you.
4. Gifts for the host family are not expected. If you feel you really want to bring a gift, a small gift such as a photo of you or your family or a postcard of your country would be enjoyed.
5. If you have a digital camera, take it along and get some pictures! We'd love to see photos of your dinner visit. Feel free to ask your hosts questions about their family or life in the US.
6. When you leave, remember to thank your hosts for inviting you and providing dinner.
7. After the visit, you will receive an email asking you to complete an online evaluation for the ECIR. It consists of a few short questions that will let us know how your experience went. We appreciate your feedback as it will help us improve the program.
8. It is customary in the US either to send a brief thank-you note or to call your host family within several days of your visit! A phone call or e-mail is important to acknowledge their generosity and to encourage the spirit of hospitality in our community.