In the next few weeks, about 10,000 citizens of some 140 foreign countries will join Oxford’s universities.

Some of them will be apprehensive about their welcome here; all will experience culture shock and homesickness. The vast majority will not enter a private home again until they return to their own country. People who choose to study abroad are not just after a degree. They hope to immerse themselves in the language and culture of their host country. And the best way to do that is to get out from the college or campus, and to meet the natives in their own homes and communities.

This is where a charity called HOST steps in. HOST is a network of hospitable volunteers across the UK — 58 of them in Oxfordshire — who offer one-off invitations to international students to spend a short time as guests in their homes. Margaret and Neil Hancox have been inviting international students to their Abingdon home for more than 20 years. “We do it for the pleasure of meeting well-informed, often impressive, people from all over the world. It’s amazing how well we can get to know each other in a weekend. And we are still learning; not just about their countries and culture, their attitudes and aspirations, but also seeing our own way of life in new ways through their eyes,” said Margaret. Students who accept HOST’s invitations are equally fascinated and often amazed by kindness and hospitality which they didn’t expect to experience. Charlotte and Michael Woods, from Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, included Raquel, a Creative Arts exchange student, in their Christmas celebrations last year. Afterwards Charlotte said: “It was a very enriching experience; and if it contributes to furthering international relations, this is a positive way forward for all countries involved.”

HOST’s voluntary organiser in Oxfordshire, Rosemary Clegg, is looking for new hosts to give the students a taste of home-life. If you could offer a warm welcome for a day or a weekend, or if you would enjoy introducing someone from another culture to Christmas, see www.hostuk.org or call 01235 868047.