Hosting FAQ

Your guests will take a ride share from their residence or university campus, arriving at your house around 6:00 pm. Then, between 8:30 - 9:00p.m. or the conversation comes to a natural conclusion, they will take a ride share back to their residence.

No, we are happy to assign guests to any interested host. However, the more information you can provide us in your application about your hobbies, profession, languages, and countries/regions of interest, the easier it is for us to match you with international students who share common interests.

Needless to say, the answer to this question varies between individuals and groups. However, your guests are international students. This is their opportunity to ask questions in an open, respectful, and informal environment. In turn, it is your opportunity to ask questions about their country, viewpoints, etc. 

We strongly encourage you to invite your friends and family to join you for a hosted dinner! If you have some family, friends, or colleagues who have similar professional interests, your guests often enjoy the opportunity to network.

Children are welcome to join you for dinner. As they are aware from their families, hosted dinners can be one of the few times they may have a chance to interact with people of all ages and learn more about American life from all perspectives.

Please let us know on the application if you have pets. While it is seldom a problem, some cultures are not used to pets in the home, and your guests may be afraid or uncomfortable around animals, especially dogs. Some also have pet allergies of which we try to be mindful.

Utah Global Diplomacy informs your guests ahead of time that the attire for hosted dinners is casual. Please dress in whatever way you feel most comfortable. Some guests may take this opportunity to dress up or dress in traditional attire. Different cultures have different standards of modesty; if you have questions about appropriate dress, please don’t hesitate to contact a Utah Global Diplomacy representative.

At the beginning or end of the evening, you may be presented with thank you gifts. It is not necessary, but if you wish to reciprocate, you may want to present your guests with a small souvenir, such as a postcard, calendar or key chain from Utah. The Utah Office of Tourism located on Capitol Hill is a good source for small mementos.

In case you need to contact your guests the night of the dinner, Utah Global Diplomacy will provide you with the contact information.

We hope this won’t happen, but we know emergencies can occur. Please let a Utah Global Diplomacy representative know immediately if you need to cancel a hosted dinner. The more notice we have, the easier it is to make alternate arrangements for your guests.

An “all-American” meal means different things to different people. The best rule of thumb is to serve what you like and feel most confident cooking. Your meal could range from stir fry to enchiladas or grilled hamburgers to roast turkey.

Don’t hesitate to host because you’re not a gourmet chef. A simple meal that will satisfy most palates is a roasted chicken, rice, green salad, and ice cream for dessert. Or, invite friends and host a potluck! Visitors don’t have too many opportunities to try fresh, local fruits and vegetables, so you may want to add a fruit or veggie tray to your meal.

If the guests you are hosting have special dietary needs, Utah Global Diplomacy will provide you with that information at least 48 hours prior to the hosting event. That could include food allergies or religious dietary restrictions. If religious dietary restrictions are requested, Utah Global Diplomacy can provide you with helpful guidelines, as well as suggestions for supermarkets where you can purchase food that meets these guidelines. When in doubt, have plenty of rice, vegetables, and fruits on hand.

Many cultures enjoy having wine or other alcoholic beverages with their meal; however, this is not expected. Participants from other cultures may request that alcohol not be served. Utah Global Diplomacy will provide you with any information we receive regarding your guests’ preferences. Please apply your own personal standards to your event. We have found that most cultures enjoy a hot beverage, such as tea, at the end of a meal.

International students look forward to having dinner at a host home because it is a rare opportunity to visit a typical American home. Going to a restaurant can detract from this experience. If you live far away or have limited space, consider co-hosting with friends or family.