Homestay and Community Volunteering
Welcome visiting students to the
Pacific Northwest!
FIUTS IS SEEKING HOSTS FOR THE PROGRAM(S) LISTED BELOW!
Thanksgiving dinner: Thanksgiving Host Registration
Welcome Week Winter Quarter 2027
Weekend homestay (January 22-24 | January 29-31, 2027) - High school students from the Kiribati islands - Spend a short weekend or 2 sharing the highlights of the Pacific Northwest with the Kiribati participants, Homestay is from Friday night to Sunday evening, just 2 nights.
2 week homestay (March 2 - March 17, 2027) - Ehime University Students from Japan
Please fill out our availability survey to continue building memories with students from around the world.
Potential hosts and volunteers
If you are not yet a Homestay Host/ Volunteer, here are the overall requirements:
Must live within one hour via public transit to at least one university or college in the greater Seattle area.
Individuals, couples, and families are all welcome to participate!
Apply to become a host here!.
Contact olena@fiuts.org for more information or if you need help with the application process.
Thanksgiving Dinner:
Many international students visiting Seattle area are eager to experience American traditions and culture.
Thanksgiving represents the very best ideals of our community spirit and tradition. Hosting a student (or students) for Thanksgiving dinner is a wonderful way to get involved with the FIUTS hosting community and share a special holiday meal with international visitors.
If you have never hosted through FIUTS before, please fill out the FIUTS host application to sign up to host for Thanksgiving.
(Student sign ups begin on Friday, October 9, 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do students sign up for Thanksgiving?
Seattle area international students (ranging from freshmen to PhD candidates and visiting scholars) sign up online to be matched with a local family or group of friends to join them for their Thanksgiving celebration. The deadline for students to sign up is Thursday, November 16. If you are a student you can register here!
How will I be connected with my students?
Once we have all the signups, we’ll start sending emails to hosts and students connecting them with one another. Once you receive an email connecting you with your student (or students – you’re welcome to host more than one) you’re all set to communicate with them directly and let them know where and when to meet you on Thanksgiving day. Emails connecting hosts and students will be sent on Monday and Tuesday, November 23 and 24.
What countries/regions do students come from?
The majority of students who sign up for Thanksgiving are from China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. There are also students from Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and other parts of the world. If you are interested in getting to know students from a particular country or region, please let us know when you sign up to host, we can't make guarantees, but we will do our best!
How old are the students?
University students range from freshmen (approximately 18 years old) to Ph.D. candidates and visiting scholars - so they represent many ages and levels of study. If you are particularly interested in hosting a particular level of the student, please let us know when you sign up to host.
How do students get to my home?
Most students are adept at using public transportation - if you are not able to give them a ride, you are welcome to just let them know how to get to your house via bus. Otherwise, you can pick them up on campus or at another mutually convenient location.
I'm a new host. How do I sign up?
In order to ensure that we are being responsible when connecting students with community members, we ask that all prospective hosts fill out our online host application. This is our standard application for all our homestay and friendship programs so if you’re just applying to be a Thanksgiving host, just select that option and skip all the homestay-related questions.
Thank you to all new, current, former, and possible hosts!
Hiking Day-Host
Some of the most popular FIUTS events for students are going on hikes and appreciating the natural beauty that we are surrounded by in the PNW. Unfortunately, the cost of chartering a bus has become prohibitively expensive, an expense then passed down to the participants. While we work with some of our institutional partners to find ways to partner and reduce costs for students, FIUTS still wants to provide hiking opportunities. We know that many of our visiting program host families love to take their students on hikes, and that many hosts enjoy day-hosting events like the Super Bowl and Thanksgiving. Therefore, as the weather improves, we want to combine this shared love of hiking and day-hosting and recruit hosts who would be willing to take a small number of students on hikes around the area that would otherwise be inaccessible to students who don’t drive. If you are interested in hosting a hike or just want to learn more, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Learn more here!
CURRENT HOSTS
A lot has changed in the last few years for FIUTS and for members of our community. To help us out, please take a few minutes to click the button below and update your host profile with your basic information: Name, email, phone, pets, address, and a bio of yourself/ family that would be given to any student that you host. We appreciate your help! You can also fill out our availability survey to continue building memories with students from around the world.
Why become a host?
FIUTS visiting student with host family
“FIUTS presents a unique opportunity to welcome International Students, highlight the city of Seattle and enrich the lives of the families that participate. There are so many benefits to hosting a student for all involved. We learned about a new culture, we shared new experiences and our daughter learned kindness, acceptance and hospitality. This program allows us to connect with other people in a fun and intimate way that is safe and stress-free! ”
“What’s the mirror image of a trip around the world? Hosting international guests. You experience the trip from the other side. International guests teach you about their culture (and also about yours). They can expand your way of thinking, help you learn a language, introduce you to new foods, and become lifelong friends. ”
Since 1948, Seattle families and individuals have been welcoming incoming international students into their lives and homes through programs like Short-term Homestay, Thanksgiving dinner, and Friendship Connections. You have the power to continue the tradition and make Seattle a welcoming place for incoming international students.
By being a community volunteer for a homestay or friendship program through FIUTS, you:
are a blowtorch against the Seattle Freeze
express values of cultural diversity, inclusion, and hope
promote peace and connections between our region and communities across the globe
learn about other cultures, and expand your own world view
create lasting relationships with students that may extend to visiting their home countries, attending their weddings, or simply catching up online
improve the experience of incoming international students and provide them with an experience of someone who actually lives in the US, rather than a stereotype in their mind from movies or television
Your warmth, hospitality and effort makes all the difference. Interested in getting involved? Let us know!