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Staying with Friends

Some families in China will allow you to stay with them for free, in exchange for helping them with their English-language practice for an hour or two a day. You can find them with ICQ. Chinese families that have Internet access tend to be educated and relatively rich; thus they are likely to have comfortable homes. Staying with a Chinese family is the most comfortable way to get used to the Chinese lifestyle.

If you do choose this option, be aware that you may loose a lot of freedom. If you live with Chinese people they will most likely incorporate you into the family and expect you to act like a family member. They will expect you to be home at certain times for meals, and will probably want to join you whenever you go out. If you leave the house by yourself, they might get worried about you and send someone out to search for you. Keep in mind that Chinese people will have a hard time believing that your Chinese ability is good enough to get around by yourself, even if you've studied Chinese for a long time. Chinese parents treat their sons and daughters like little children until they are married; so if you are a young unmarried man or woman, there’s a good chance you’ll get treated like a kid. If you are comfortable with all these aspects, then staying with a Chinese family has a lot of advantages.

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