Arcadia Ireland

HOST is a scheme that sends students all over the UK to spend a weekend with a British host and get a real taste of British life. Trinity University student Merriam Scafide (Queen Mary, Fall '23) recently went to Weymouth, on England's south coast, so shares her experience.

At the Weymouth cliffs, I stood next to Vivien. The wind blew so hard we could barely keep upright. I watched in awe as the ginormous waves created by two intersecting currents smashed against the cliff face before me. Carried farther by the wind, sprays of white mist sprinkled nearby rocks.

This was the first of many incredible things I did with the Sloans. Vivien and Richard kindly welcomed me into their house for a HOST weekend. Getting nothing in return for their generosity, they meet new people worldwide and show them the beauty of Weymouth and its surrounding villages.

Weymouth is a fisherman’s town with many natural beaches and bays. It’s a hidden gem among travelers. The area is difficult to reach by car because no main roads connect Weymouth to the rest of England. Amazing pieces of history have taken place here, like the development of the Jurassic Coast, the first case of the Black Death Plague in England, naval preparation leading to the D-Day invasion, castles left behind by monarchs, and even the 2012 Sailing Olympics.

The town is crawling with beautiful churches. St. Anne’s was a personal favorite of mine. This 12th-century church was well-loved and well-taken care of by the community. It has stunning wooden beams holding up the light blue ceiling. Light stone outlined the windows and alcoves, unique to Weymouth’s quarries.

Richard and Vivien were a retired teacher and a retired headmistress, respectively. Married for 45 years, they constantly cracked jokes with each other and gave off a ton of positive energy. They remained active and adventurous in their older age by traveling the world in their spare time. Most recently, their travels consisted of a six-week trip to Australia and New Zealand. 

For meals, they cooked fresh food from vegetables and fruits in their backyard garden. I tasted chutney freshly made from chillis and tomatoes, fresh mashed potatoes with parsnips, steamed carrots straight from the ground, and more. It was the best food I’d eaten all semester in London!

I felt so at home with Richard and Vivien. They gave me a lovely room with a view of the rolling green hills and their garden. I slept better there than I had in weeks on campus! Each night, Vivien would make me a cup of tea and give me a slice of cake. We’d sit next to the warm fireplace and chat before bed. My time in Weymouth brought me much peace and contentment, a nice break from bustling London.

I was relieved to be taken care of for a weekend, and I’m so grateful for the Sloans’ hospitality. Weymouth was a perfect fit for me and reminded me of home. If you get a chance to do HOST, take it! You won’t regret it!