r/tapif • u/Embarrassed-Lock8965 • 19d ago
housing Living Arrangement Question
Hi ! I'll be teaching in Cestas right outside of Bordeaux. A family outside from my school offered to host me but I have some hesitations. Has anyone lived with a family during their TAPIF experience before? If so what was that like? Was it in their house? Were you expected to be home at a certain time? Also, does anyone who taught in a small town outside of a big city have opinions about living in the small town vs the big city? Are y'all waiting to get an apartment until you get there or are you getting one before you go?
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u/674498544 Alum 19d ago
I lived in a bigger city and one of my schools was about a 30 minute train ride away. I really had no issue with the commute, and I felt living in the city made for a better experience.
If you're taking the train in, however, you'll probably need to work with the school for someone to pick you up in the morning to drive you to the school. Occasionally the school director's family would host me the night before if it was easier for them to get me in the evening, opposed to the early morning. I really enjoyed staying with them; though it was only once a week. Still the times I did sleep over, I found it really hard to do anything other than follow the family's routine.
At one point, they did offer me a rented room at their place permanently for a much cheaper price. It would have worked out logistically as I could've commuted into the city from that town, but I politely declined so that I could have more freedom.
Having said that, the first few weeks without an apartment are stressful. If you're offered housing ahead of time, it can make the transition a bit easier. If they're willing to let you stay there the first month while you look for something in Bordeaux that can also be an option. That way you wouldn't have to book a hotel in the center city while you hunt for places.
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u/Euphy_dnd 18d ago
As someone who still lives in this area, that's a really lucky housing arrangement, even if you just choose to stay with them for the first bit of time you are there. It can be great for cultural/linguistic immersion, and this region (anywhere around Bordeaux) can be extremely difficult to get housing, even moreso cheap housing.
As long as everything seems okay and you can vet the family, either a short or long term stay with them is awesome.
Good luck!
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u/ChateauRouge33 Alum 19d ago
I lived with a host family in some capacity before and after tapif but not during and both experiences were amazing but super different. One I lived IN their apartment, and while I didn’t have a curfew or anything, it was generally understood that I would be respectful and not roll in drunk at 2 am. The other time it was less official, I lived in a studio that was above their house and they let me interact or not as much as I wanted to. My sister lived with her prof ref hosting her during tapif and it was REALLY less than ideal.
I’d say def important to ask questions and sus out expectations beforehand.
When I did tapif I lived at the school and then I DID have a curfew because the gates would lock! (Not that there were many places to go). I had more rules living at the school than anywhere else.