Sleeping and Living arrangements on the farm

On the farm we chose, Vaness and I lived in a bedroom in the house of the family hosting us, a family of four including two young children. This was okay for the majority of our time on the farm, but by the sixth month I think the family was ready to have their privacy again, and so were we. We also had the occasional conflict over kitchen use. Thus, I have concluded that the ideal situation is for an apprentice or apprentices to sleep in a separate residence, if not cook and live there; after working with your hosts all day, it's nice to have complete privacy in the evening. This isn't always possible, however, so here are a few questions to keep in mind when you're faced with the possibility of sharing your accomodations with your host family.

Where is your bedroom located in relation to other rooms in the house?
Our bedroom was on the same floor as the others, and right next to one of the kids. Thus we rarely felt comfortable having private conversations in our bedroom, or on the phone--inevitably an apprentice will have calls from friends who will ask them about their experience. Being candid can be difficult when you're worried about who else is listening.

How often is the house empty?
If you can expect occasional opportunities to have the house to yourself, than can go a long way to meeting your need for your own space. In seven months Vaness and I had the house to ourselves no more than a few times, each time never more than a few hours.

How big is the kitchen, how much is it used, and how warm are they to the idea of other people using it regularly?
The kitchen on our farm was the source of the most conflicts for us, even though we ate all of our meals with the family. The problem was that the kitchen was small, and used a lot. Vaness and I both like to cook, bake, and preserve, and so did the family. Plus, the family's main kitchen user had a hard time dealing with strangers in the kitchen who used the equipment differently and put things away in the wrong place. If you expect full access to the kitchen for your apprenticeship, talk out the details with the family ahead of time.

Are you being realistic about your ability to tolerate certain conditions of the house?
Our family was very clear with us that they kept a very messy house. We told them, and ourselves, that that was okay with us, that we could tolerate it. In the end it bothered us a bit--a period of months can be a long time to tolerate something you find difficult. Thus I suggest would-be apprentices be very honest with themselves about their expectations and needs. Don't commit yourself to living conditions you're not completely sure you can handle.