| 1. |
Don’t know. . . . haven’t had a chance to think about it.
You need to do your homework. What do you need to anticipate before going on a homestay? And what are the expectations the homestay family may have of you? |
| 2. |
I have heard host families treat you very well; almost like royalty.
If true, such treatment comes with a set of obligations. What do you think the host family’s expectations of you might be if they were to treat you this way? |
| 3. |
If we hit it off, I expect to be included in the family, like a member.
This is unlikely in a short stay in a Japanese family. You are more likely to be treated as a guest than a family member. If you understand your actual position in the homestay family, your experience is much more likely to be successful. (See Parts 2 & 3 for information on this). |
| 4. |
I know the family is putting a lot of effort into the homestay. I’ll try my best to fit into the family lifestyle, even if it means changing some things in mine.
Good thinking! It is important for you to try to accommodate yourself to the family. Setting aside your usual ways of acting for a while will help you to learn more about Japan, Japanese people, and even yourself. |
| 5. |
I know a homestay will be harder in some ways than living on my own, but it also has greater potential for learning, and creating relationships.
You are right. Adapting to a different way of life and to living with new people can teach you a great deal, about yourself as well as about Japan. And for many people on both sides, the relationships formed during a homestay last a lifetime. |
