1. Mother's Day and Father's Day! 👪

• 30th March is Mother's Day and if your student is still here due to exams, 15th June is Father's Day. These days are the perfect excuse to spend time together and celebrate host mums and dads. Has your student done something nice for you? Don't forget to tell us about it!

2. Easter 🐣

• Students will have at least 2 weeks off from school for Easter which they can use to relax, explore and study for any upcoming exams/coursework. Easter Sunday is on 20th April, which if you celebrate, we hope your student will involve themselves in your day! If you have any younger children or family members, we have encouraged students to arrange an Easter Egg hunt. Perhaps you could help them to organise this?

3. Earth Day 🌍

• April 22nd celebrates the wonderful planet that we live on and raises awareness of the environmental issues that put it at risk. Celebrate this day with a walk in nature, a picnic in the park or taking the day to make more sustainable choices. It could also be a great topic of discussion at the dinner table!

4. International Day of Families 🥰

• May 15th, organised by the United Nations is a day to highlight how important families are in the fabric of international communities and the foundation of society. It's a day to remember that there is no 'blueprint' for a family, but rather a group of people who love and support each other. Use this day to spend time together and reminisce about the wonderful memories you've made. Perhaps you could try cooking a meal together or going out for a family walk!

The above suggestions are only a snippet of the various events and things to do in the coming months. Spring is a lovely time in the UK, the sun is out, flowers are in bloom and everyone has a smile on their face. If there are any annual events in the local area like Village Fetes, please do suggest them to your student and encourage them to get outside- Winter is over!

Sunrise on the Reaping is the latest book in the 'Hunger Games' series by Suzanne Collins. It is the second prequel novel to the original series set 24 years before the first novel. The narrative explores themes of political manipulation, the power of propaganda and the complexities of societal control under totalitarian regime. It sounds rather heavy, but is written for young adults!

The originals are a series of young adult dystopian novels. The series consists of a trilogy that follows teenage protagonist Katniss Everdeen. Every year, two children, one boy and one girl, from the first 12 districts are selected via lottery to participate in a compulsory televised subjugation, disguised as a battle royale death match called "The Hunger Games", a spectacle of brutality and survival orchestrated by the powerful to maintain their grip on the weak.

These books were made it into films as well and are available as audiobooks, so there are different ways for everyone to enjoy!

There is plenty to see and do in the UK, and not just the usual tourist attractions. However for international students, it can be hard to know where to choose, how to get there and what to do whilst there!

Our tailored itineraries offer students a ready-made day out to follow. Check back here if you ever need inspiration or if your student asks for recommendations (EF Explores is also on the student bulletin board).

SOUTH ENGLAND & WALES

• Alpaca Walking
• Bristol
• Canterbury
• Durdle Door
• Isle of Wight
• Richmond Upon Thames
• Seven Sisters

NORTH ENGLAND & WALES

• Delamere Forest
• Donna Nook
• Heights of Abraham
• Knowsley Safari Park
• Lancaster
• Port Sunlight Village
• Sheffield
• Stamford

Students can join their fellow classmates for a competitive afternoon of darts and shuffleboard at Boom Battle Bar. They can test their aim with unique and fun darts games followed by trying their hand at what can only be described as curling without the ice- shuffleboard!

The city of Manchester also has plenty to offer, so why not suggest they arrive earlier or leave later to explore the bustling streets and shops beforehand. Remember they can ask a member of the team for our recommended itinerary for exploring the city.

They can visit this page for more information and to sign-up!

Students can join their fellow classmates for a competitive afternoon of darts and shuffleboard at Boom Battle Bar. They can test their aim with unique and fun darts games followed by trying their hand at what can only be described as curling without the ice- shuffleboard!

The seaside town of Eastbourne also has plenty to offer, so why not suggest they arrive earlier or leave later to explore the bustling shorefront and shops beforehand. Remember, they can ask a member of the team for our recommended itinerary for exploring the city.

Visit this page for more information and to sign-up!

The time is nearing for this much anticipated Discovery Tour to bonny Scotland! If your student isn't joining us on this trip, remember they can check out all of our EF Explores itineraries for day trip ideas to a range of UK cities

Starting in Edinburgh, students will be exploring the city's historic, cobblestone streets. Did you know that today's Edinburgh is actually built on top of the old city?! As they're exploring the streets, you can tell them they'll be walking on top of ancient streets and buildings below!

They'll see sights like Edinburgh Castle and Calton Hill, climb Arthur's Seat and visit the National Museum of Scotland. A day trip out of the city will take them to Stirling Castle and Loch Katrine.

After a few days in Edinburgh, the tour will venture out to Glencoe and the West Highlands for a night, finishing with exploring Glasgow and visiting the National Bagpipe Centre amongst other things!

Scotland is a beautiful place, but it's known for being chilly. Remind students to pack lots of layers and warm clothes, a waterproof jacket and comfortable shoes for all the walking they'll be doing!

As we near the end of this year's exchange, our final group meetups centre around Farewell Days, but that's not to say there isn't still plenty for students to see and do!

We appreciate life is busy, but if you can, it is without a doubt that students will hugely appreciate and value any day trips/afternoons/evenings out and about with you. As time slips away and end of exchange nears, it's the final opportunity to make lasting memories with one another in the Spring sunshine!

Does your student deserve to be recognised?

Whether it's because they have gone above and beyond to support a friend, because they have been a positive force or huge help at home or at school, or because they have simply been a lovely student, you can nominate them to receive an EF Student Recognition Award.

Click here to nominate an EF student!

Welcoming an international student into your home is a special thing to do and we want to hear all about it!

Send us your photos and stories so that we can show the global HSEY family just how amazing our UK host families are.

Send your photos or stories to your Regional Manager today!

Our Facebook group is a great place to share photos and stories with your fellow host families.

It is also used for:

• Asking questions
• Important updates
• Community engagement
• Getting to know the UK team

Click here to join the group!