Thanksgiving
in California

Every family is vetted by EduAbroad before a student is ever placed with them — background checks, a home visit, and an interview. We have been placing students with San Diego families for more than fifteen years, and many of the families on our roster have hosted with us repeatedly. Placement considers the student's age, interests, dietary needs, and any allergies.

Usually students are placed one or two per family.

Those days are deliberately unstructured, because that is where the real experience is. Families spend Sunday however they normally would — a hike, a church service, a football game, a trip to the beach. Thanksgiving Day is the shopping, the cooking, and the long meal. A chaperone is reachable by phone throughout, and families check in with us.

The program is fully chaperoned. EduAbroad staff accompany the group on every activity day and travel with students to Los Angeles, where they stay in the same hotel. On host family days, supervision passes to the vetted family, with our staff on call at all hours.

Students keep their phones and can contact home whenever they like. We also send regular updates and photographs to parents and, where a school is the sponsor, to the school's international office.

Tell us during registration and it is handled in the placement. Host families are matched with the restriction in mind and briefed before arrival. For anything requiring medication or ongoing care, we speak with parents directly to build a plan before the student flies.

It is designed for middle and high school students. Boarding school students whose dormitories close over the Thanksgiving break are a particularly good fit — the program covers exactly the window when campus housing is unavailable.

Enough to hold a basic conversation. Students do not need to be fluent — a host family week is one of the fastest ways to gain confidence, precisely because there is no alternative to speaking. Students at every level from intermediate upward do well.

Yes, and many do. If you are an international student coordinator or houseparent placing several students, contact us directly — we will coordinate placements, arrival logistics, and reporting back to your office as a group.

Flights are not included. Book into San Diego International Airport (SAN), arriving Friday, November 20 and departing Sunday, November 29. Airport transfers at San Diego are included in both directions. Students flying into Los Angeles instead will need to arrange their own connection to San Diego.

For students already studying in the United States, this is domestic travel and no additional visa is needed. Your school's DSO should have a current, signed I-20 on file before travel, as with any trip. We can provide a program letter confirming the dates, itinerary, and supervision for your school's records on request.

Late November in Southern California is mild — days in the 60s and 70s, evenings cooler. Comfortable walking shoes matter most; there are several campus and city days on foot. One nicer outfit for Thanksgiving dinner is a good idea. A detailed packing list goes out to every family before departure.

Start with the registration form — that is the fastest way to hold a place. Space is limited, and host family placements are confirmed in the order registrations are received, so earlier registration means more choice in the match. If you would rather ask questions first, email executive@eduabroad.us or call (858) 605-0085.

Contact us for a quote. We will send you the current rate together with a full breakdown of what it covers, so you can see exactly what is and is not included before you commit.