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2007/2008 Cultural Trip to Japan More »

Host Families Needed!
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Host Families

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the world in which we live. We are all so different, yet all so much alike. Host families typically learn as much or more as their guests, so it is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to enrich your lives by inviting guests from another country into your home for a few days.

Japanese visitors vary from elementary school children to adults. They all have similar goals - to experience and understand American culture. They are all well schooled, well mannered, and have had some English lessons. Even so, their pronunciation is typically poor because non-native English speaking teachers are the ones that typically teach them pronunciation. They can understand the written word better than the spoken word, and they can more than likely understand you better than you can understand them.

The typical length of stay is 1-3 weeks. In some cases, the Japanese visitors will have activities planned from about 8 am until 5 pm. After 5 pm, you need to make arrangements to either be at home or to be able to pick them up. Other times, we have a program where the Japanese visitors will stay with their host families for the entire duration of their stay.

As a host family, you are expected to:

Welcome the visitors as part of your family.
Provide a comfortable bed. We can provide a bed if you do not have a spare. Sharing a room with your child (same gender) when the visitor is similar age is fine.
Provide meals, usually breakfast, dinner, and maybe a snack. You are not expected to prepare special meals. Some of your food cost will be reimbursed.
Spend time with the visitor to get to know each other.
Help the visitor understand and participate in everyday activities with you. For example, take them to grocery stores, church, park, etc… places you would normally go. They are curious about everything you do in your daily life.
Be patient. The visitors do not speak fluent English. You may have to use a lot of body language to explain things.
Be prepared to show them the basics. [For example, many showers do not operate the same here as they do in Japan. You may have to show them how to get hot water out of the shower.]
Be their temporary parents. What you think is a common sense may not be true in Japanese culture. They may not know what's appropriate and what's not in America.

You are NOT expected to:

Buy special food or luxury items for the visitors.
Change your house rules such as bed time.

Are you interested in becoming a Host Family?
Please fill out our short application to see if your family is a good fit and we will be back in touch with you as soon as possible.