7 Tips for a Successful Homestay in Japan

Studying abroad in Japan is an exciting and sometimes frightening experience. Exciting, because you are traveling into the unknown, half a world away, where you will learn new customs and a new way of life. Frightening, for those exact same reasons. Many people opt for a homestay with a Japanese family while abroad. This can ease the transition, by supplying a home and familiar faces to return to every day. For those whose Japanese is at a low level, a homestay is a sure way to ensure that you will always have someone to talk to with whom you can practice Japanese. With a host family taking care of you, you can also alleviate fears you may have of not knowing what to buy at the supermarket, how to use the toilet or shower/bath, or how to board the train or subway. There are many things that can help a homestay with a Japanese family go smoothly, and here are seven tips from my personal experience.

1. Be Open-Minded and Willing to Learn

Perhaps the most important thing you can do is enter your homestay with an open mind. Your Japanese family will easily be able to tell whether you are coming in with an attitude of superiority or a willingness to learn new things that Japanese children know and take for granted. Do not be embarrassed when you are unable to use the toilet because of the dozens of buttons on the side panel and your little host sister shows you how. Remember, you are traveling to a far away country because of your interest in their culture, and your host family has likely chosen to become a host precisely because they are eager to teach others about their way of life. Show a genuine interest, and they will be glad to show you the real Japan in return.

2. Be Willing to Teach