Average Temperature: High 23 C, Low 8 C

Lancaster, Pennsylvania is a scenic, safe area with many cultural and historical places to explore.  It is located near major cities such as New York City (3 hours), Washington DC (2 hours) and Philadelphia (1 hour).  The weather is seasonal so students can enjoy Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.  

Life in an American Home

Students learn about American culture first hand by living with an American family.  Many friendships have been developed between host families and their students.

Host families will house students and provide 3 meals a day, a room for sleeping and studying, assistance with transportation, care and support. Students are responsible for the purchase of personal items.

Differences in an American home

Family Pets: Many Americans have one or more pets in their home such as a cat, dog, birds, etc.

Family Meal Times: Families usually eat dinner together between 5-7 pm. Family discussions take place around the dinner table.
Evening activities: Some families spend the evening relaxing at home after a long day at work. Other families attend sports functions if their children are active in sports.
Weekends: Saturdays are usually spent working around the home, traveling or relaxing at home. Sundays are usually spent at church and resting at home in the afternoon.
Travel: The main mode of transport in America is a car; therefore, American families will drive to many places instead of taking a train or a bus. Driving 8-10 hours on vacation is normal.

Lancaster County Lifestyle 
Work
Lancaster is a large farming community as well as a location for many large and small companies. It is home to many international businesses. Because of the many farms, fresh fruits and vegetables are available most of the year.

Transportation
High school students usually ride a school bus or are transported by the host family, while post-high school and college students use public transportation on a daily basis to attend school. Since Lancaster is a smaller city, the number of buses is fewer than in larger city areas. Students may find they are very reliant on their host family for any transportation, especially in the evenings. Our host families are aware that a part of their responsibility is to provide transportation, however this requires planning ahead on the students' part.

Although Lancaster is a rural area, it is located within a few hours from many major cities such as New York, D.C., Philadelphia, and Baltimore. The Amtrak train system is available for travel to nearby cities.

People
Since Lancaster is a rural community, many people go to bed before midnight and wake up early in the morning. Our host families are Christians so they will attend church on Sunday mornings. Host families in Lancaster are busy just like other families but they desire to have international students in their homes because they want to learn more about other countries and cultures. 

Recreation
During each season there are many things to do in Lancaster. In the spring and summer, hiking, swimming, fishing, shopping, attending concerts in the park and barbeques are popular.  In the fall and winter, many people enjoy indoor sports, skating, skiing and attending musicals.

Schools
AHLI students attend Christian or Private schools in the area. All schools provide excellent educational and extra curricular opportunities for students.

For more information about Lancaster County, visit: