Homestay in Reading

31/10/2026

02/08/2026

28/07/2026

Celebrating true excellence today! ⚖️🎓
Huge congratulations to Akinlolu Falaye on graduating today with his Law degree (LLB) from the University of Reading!
Having hosted Akin for the past 4 years—from the very day he arrived to begin his Foundation Year through to his final LLB exams—watching him walk the stage today is a deeply emotional and special moment for our entire family. Seeing his sheer grit, late-night study sessions, and unwavering discipline under our roof over the last four years has been an absolute privilege.
Making the day even more meaningful, our daughter Meg Warot—herself fresh from graduating from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)—was right there alongside us to support and celebrate him. Having grown up and studied together under the same roof for four years, seeing them both reach these world-class academic milestones side-by-side is the ultimate reward.
Next stop for Akin is Law School in Nigeria to qualify in his home jurisdiction, with his sights set on pursuing a Master’s degree at Oxford, Cambridge, or London, followed by the Bar at The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn.
We couldn't be prouder of everything he has accomplished and are deeply honored to have been his home away from home throughout his entire university journey. We have no doubt he has an extraordinarily bright future ahead in international law! 🚀

31/05/2026

Bridging Worlds: From Shanghai to the UK 🌍✨
We are absolutely delighted to welcome Eva, who has joined us all the way from Shanghai!
There is nothing quite like the energy and excitement of welcoming a new student to their beautiful UK boarding school campus. Seeing that bright smile and sharing a fun peace-sign moment makes the start of this journey so incredibly special.
Providing a warm, supportive "home away from home" is exactly what our cultural exchange experience is all about. We are so proud to guide and support incredible young students as they take their first big steps into British education!
Welcome to the UK, Ev! 🇬🇧
🏡 homestayreading.com

25/05/2026

The Beauty of Simple Moments 🥭
Sometimes, the most memorable parts of hosting aren't the big day trips or the busy schedules—it’s the quiet, everyday moments right in the kitchen.
Today, we enjoyed a wonderful afternoon moment simply sharing a perfectly well-ripened mango. It sounds so simple, but these small, shared interactions are nothing short of absolutely everything. It is exactly what makes the homestay experience so rewarding!
Welcome to the UK! 🇬🇧✨

09/05/2026

🥣 A Magical Welcome: Where Cultures Meet | 跨越历史与大洋的滋味
​At Homestay Reading, every arrival is a special occasion. Today, we welcomed our newest guests with a little bit of culinary theater! 🎭✨
​We served a traditional "Bol Renversé" (Upside Down Bowl). This spectacular dish hails from Mauritius, my wife’s homeland. It is a fascinating reflection of the island's history—a unique blend of British and French colonial influences, enriched by a vibrant Chinese community that makes up about 15% of the population. 🦤🇲🇺
​Moving to the UK is a big adventure, and we love making our students feel at home by sharing these global flavors. From daily school runs to sharing a meal that connects Mauritius, France, and China, we provide a truly multicultural and nurturing environment.
​🇬🇧 Homestay Reading —— 感受多元文化的英国寄宿生活。
​在 Homestay Reading，每一次迎接新同学都是一个特别的时刻。今天，我们用一份特别的“美食魔法”欢迎了新朋友！🎭✨
​我们准备了独具特色的**“翻转碗” (Bol Renversé)**。这道菜源自我夫人的家乡——毛里求斯。它不仅见证了岛上英法殖民历史的交织，更融入了当地占总人口约15%的华裔社区的烹饪精华。🦤🇲🇺
​来到英国求学是一场伟大的冒险。我们热衷于通过分享这些融合了毛里求斯、法国和中国风味的佳肴，让学生感受到家的温暖。无论是日常接送，还是这碗蕴含深厚历史底蕴的晚餐，我们都致力于为学生创造一个包容、温暖且充满关怀的环境。
​📍 Learn more: homestayreading.com
​ #英国留学 #英国寄宿家庭 #留学生活 #毛里求斯美食 #多元文化 #中法英融合 #温馨港湾

08/05/2026

A Taste of Home Away From Home 🍜✨
There is nothing quite like a home-cooked meal to settle into a new environment.
We are currently hosting a young student and his family from China, and to welcome them, my wife prepared a truly beautiful feast. The table was filled with a fragrant chicken and mushroom broth, two varieties of noodles, handmade wontons and dumplings, and perfectly seared marinated chicken with homemade sushi 🍣
At Homestay Reading, we know that moving to a new country is a big step. Providing a nurturing environment—and a kitchen that smells like home—is what we do best. Whether we are assisting with daily transport or sharing a meal, our goal is to ensure our guests feel supported and cared for every single day.
It’s a pleasure to be part of their journey here in the UK.

02/05/2026

The "King of Teas" 🍵✨
We believe the best part of hosting is the stories and cultures shared across our kitchen table. Yesterday, we were honored with a truly special gift from one of our Chinese guests—a beautiful Lao Ban Zhang (老班章) Pu-erh tea cake.
Known in the tea world as the "King," this aged tea from Yunnan is famous for its bold character and incredibly smooth, "hollow" finish. It smells as fresh as the mountain air it came from! 🏔️ And has so many health benefits!
We may be a tiny host family, but it’s moments like these—sharing a rare brew and learning the art of the "rinse"—that make our home feel like it’s at the center of the world. 🌍
A huge thank you to our wonderful guests for bringing a piece of your heritage into our home. We can't wait to share the next pot!

#老班章 #普洱茶 #英国民宿 #文化交流 #茶道 #茶文化 #海外生活 #民宿体验

01/05/2026

A Taste of France at Mayfield! 🇫🇷✨
Following on from my post last week about my own "De La Salle" roots, I had a wonderful surprise during today’s student pickup at Mayfield School.
I discovered that Mayfield has a strong connection with many French students—hardly surprising given that France is just across the water! As a Frenchman who attended St Jean-Baptiste de la Salle boys boarding in Rouen 40 years ago, it was wonderful to feel that familiar continental spirit right here in the UK.
Even more special? My new student joining us today from China is also learning French! It’s incredible how these international paths cross. Whether it’s sharing stories of French boarding school traditions or helping a student practice their "Bonjour," it’s these global connections that make Homestay Reading so unique.

A huge thank you again to Susan Khor Webb for the "secret" tour of the grounds and the Roman well—it made today’s welcome truly unforgettable.

26/04/2026

The Crown Jewel & The Noble Guard: A De La Salle Connection 🇫🇷
​I am currently hosting a French student, Cassandre, who shares a truly exceptional connection with my own past. He attends a "De La Salle" school near Nantes—the prestigious Saint-Joseph du Loquidy () https://www.facebook.com/loquidynantes/
​The "Crown Jewel" of Tradition
​This is part of the same elite network where I spent my formative years at St Jean-Baptiste de la Salle in Rouen https://lasallefrance.fr/jean-baptiste-de-la-salle/ (). My old school was the Crown Jewel of the Lasallian tradition. It was an academic powerhouse, ranked No. 1 in France for Mathematics, but the prestige came with a level of discipline that is hard to imagine today.
​Instructed by the Elite
​We were taught by Jesuit-trained priests who carried the weight of history in their very names. These were men of noble lineage, with names like Monsieur Pierre-Henri de la Rivière. Their authority was absolute, and their standards were uncompromising.
​A World of Absolute Rules
​To give you an idea of the environment, my subsequent military service felt like a Mediterranean holiday compared to boarding life:
​The Dormitories: 60 students in one room with "Pion" guards watching from boxes in the four corners. If someone whispered at 2:00 AM, the lights stayed on for an hour for everyone until the culprit was found.
​The Rule of Silence: Talking on the stairs earned you 200 lines; failure to complete them meant starting the count all over again.
​A Male Bastion: Women were strictly forbidden from entering the school grounds.
​Public Accountability: Every semester, results were read out loud in the chapel in front of all the fathers and students. There was no escape and no mercy—parents who complained saw their children immediately expelled.
​A Shared Heritage
​In those days, it was a world of "brutal smacks" and mandatory church, where character was forged in fire. Comparing notes with a student from the same school group today is a fascinating bridge across time.
​We may come from different generations, but we share the same "De La Salle" DNA. Welcome to the UK, Cassandre! 🇬🇧

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