13 HOMESTAY HANDBOOK.pdf - icu．ac．jp - 国際基督教大学

HOMESTAY HANDBOOK
Summer Courses in Japanese, International Christian University
A Word About Homestays
The SCJ host families are generously sharing their homes and their lives with you for
various reasons. Many families are interested in the customs and cultures of other countries.
They want to enrich their own lives by learning about others. They would also like to acquaint their
children with people from other countries so as to help their children understand the diversity of the
world in which we live. Some members of families have lived abroad and had such a wonderful
experience that they now are eager to reciprocate. Other families have family members residing
abroad at present and have opened their homes to overseas students. And still other families
simply want to do what they can to help overseas students in Japan.
Whatever your family's motive for accepting you in their home, they will be very eager to
share their lives with you. Of course, they will also want to learn about your home, family and
country. So, when you begin your homestay please remember that the home your host
family provides is more than just a place to stay and eat. They hope that you will behave as a
part of the family. This may mean a slight loss of privacy for you; for example, they may expect
you to take part in family events or outings that they have planned with you in mind. They may
also expect you to share the household work as a member of the family.
Every host family is different. Some are very casual and some more formal. Some
have relaxed home rules and some rigid rules. Please do not compare your host family with
other host families. Just enjoy the lifestyle of your host family as one of many types of Japanese
family styles. This is a key for success in your homestay. Please remember that every host
family is willing to do their best to accept you and make preparations for you. Be flexible and open
to the new and unique experiences you will encounter through your homestay.
Procedure (After your acceptance)
As the number of applicants for the homestay program is very large, we cannot guarantee
that we will be able to find a host family for everyone. But we will do our best. After your
acceptance, if you cannot be accommodated in the SCJ homestay program, you will automatically
be considered for other housing unless you make your own housing arrangements prior to your
arrival.
1. Return the CONFIRMATION AND INFORMATION SHEET that you receive with your acceptance
letter as soon as possible but no later than April 30, 2013. This should be sent together with the
2 photos, Payment Form and Personal Health Check Sheet following the instructions on “How to
Confirm Your Attendance”. It is helpful if you send an e-mail to the SCJ office to inform us of both
your intentions and the date you made the payment.
2. After confirmation, the SCJ office will send you information about your host family.
3. Make contact with your host family by e-mail or letter.
4. Decide where to meet your host family. Before you leave your country, confirm with your host
family details such as your arrival date/time and a place to meet.
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Conditions
1. Dates: Your homestay begins July 3 and ends August 16. Do not expect your host family to
make their home accessible to you before July 3 and do not stay after August 16. Honor your host
family's privacy. Please do not expect your host family to meet you at the airport, as this will
be quite an imposition. You may arrange to meet them at the train station nearest to their home, or
at the ICU SCJ office (during office hours). These details must be decided directly between you
and your host family.
July 3
2. Location: Within 60 minutes of ICU by bicycle, bus, or train (one way)
3. Fees: ¥100,000. Includes 2 meals/weekday, and if participants are home over weekends
also includes 3 meals on Saturdays and Sundays.
Does not include commuting costs. Please budget approximately
¥20,000—¥30,000 for commute costs to ICU for the entire six weeks. Commuting to ICU may take
up to 60 minutes one way. This fee also does not include other transportation costs and personal
expenses such as stationery, meals eaten outside your host family’s home, etc.
*You should pay the homestay fee (¥100,000) in cash directly to your host family immediately upon
arriving at your host family's home. It is Japanese custom to put money in an envelope when
making a payment. Your host family will be pleased if you follow this custom.
4. Food: Contrary to what many people believe, Japanese people are rarely vegetarians.
Fish is a dietary staple and many meals include beef, pork, or chicken in some form. Fish stock is
used in many Japanese dishes. If you are a vegetarian or if you have an unusual diet, you may wish
to re-think your homestay plans because few families are able to make special dietary provisions.
In fact, one of the conditions many families request of their student visitors is that he or she has a
balanced diet. It will be difficult for host mothers to plan meals around particular dietary requests.
5. On-campus dormitory is closed to all non-residents:
If you choose homestay, you cannot enter the on-campus dormitory. Only residents can enter the
dormitory. This may limit access to your classmates who stay in the dormitory. The cafeteria is open
to everybody and is a great place to spend time together.
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August 16

Preparations for Your Homestay
1. Please learn as much as you can about Japanese language, culture and customs before
coming to Japan. This is helpful in communicating with each other. Also, you should prepare
yourself for questions about such topics as your own country’s culture, customs and history. You
might be asked those questions and it will be interesting for everyone if you are able to share
information about such topics with one another.
2. Since your host family will be curious about your life back home, it might be a good idea to
have photographs of your family and home on hand to share with them. If your home country or
state is famous for a certain product or craft, your host family might enjoy it if you are able to bring a
sample of it with you. They do not expect any gifts from you but would certainly enjoy a small
souvenir with which to remember you by. Please don’t bring anything too big or expensive as your
host family may feel pressure to give something similar in return.
3. If possible, please learn how to cook some of the foods you eat at home so you can share
this experience with your host family.
During Your Homestay
1. Once you meet your family, please ask about the house rules. For example, ask about
when your family eats breakfast and dinner, rules about bathing, laundry, using the phone or
internet, and a nightly curfew (yes, many families will actually set a curfew). Once you’ve asked
about the rules, obey them! Please refer to the sample questions in the last part of this handbook.
2. Your family will feel responsible for you. Please let them know where you are going
when you go out. If you are going to be home late, please let them know when and why.
Some families will set a curfew and will expect you to keep it. Do your best to cooperate.
3. Your family has agreed to provide you with two meals a day. If you have plans for the
evening and will miss dinner, please let your family know well in advance so that they can plan
their meals accordingly.
Today, I will eat out with
friends.
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4. Your family will be worried if you cannot eat the foods they serve. Try all foods offered
to you. It is also helpful to tell your host family about your likes and dislikes.
Your host family might also enjoy it if you try to cook some of the foods you eat at home.
5. Help with household chores as needed. After dinner, offer to help with the dishes, or at
least clean up your own dishes. Remember, you are not just a guest but a part of the family.
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6. Keep your room neat. You will be expected to make your own bed. If you use a futon,
you should fold it up every morning and take it out every evening. Do not scatter your personal
belongings throughout the house. Ask how to use the washing machine and offer to do your own
laundry.
7. Respect your family's sense of modesty and do not dress too scantily when using the
bathroom and other shared areas of the house. Take your cue from the way other family members
dress.
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8. Having a bath in Japan is very different. Most families take a bath in the evening. If
you cannot survive without a morning shower, please inform your family of this and find out what is
convenient. Otherwise, take your bath in the evening. Sometimes, Japanese families pay
particular care to the order in which members of the family use the bathroom when bathing, so
please ask first when and how you ought to bathe.
If you are asked to bathe first and the water is too hot, add a little cold water, but remember that
other family members will use the same water to bathe after you, so do not make it too cool. You
must wash your body outside the tub and use the tub only to soak. Do not put soap in the tub!
After taking a bath in your host family's bathtub, please do not drain the tub. Leave the hot water
for the next person. Sharing hot bath water is a long-standing Japanese custom that helps save
water. We hope you will follow your host family's custom.
Finally, use your own bathing products (shampoo, towel, etc.) and do not "share" the family's unless
otherwise indicated.
9. As you probably know, you must remove your shoes before entering the house.
Ordinarily, after you take off your shoes at the entrance (genkan), arrange them neatly. However,
the ‘formal’ way to put away your shoes is to put them in the shoe cabinet (getabako) or wherever
you are instructed.
While at home you should wear the slippers provided. Most Japanese people wear slippers in the
house even in summer. You will find a separate pair of slippers in the toilet. Leave your house
slippers outside the toilet door and step into the toilet slippers. Remember to change slippers when
you leave the toilet!
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10. Do not use the host family's telephone for calling overseas unless you make a
collect call. To avoid any misunderstanding over paying the telephone bill, make all long distance
and international calls from a pay phone. Your host family will not be willing to accept collect calls
from abroad.
Also, please note that local calls are also expensive. Please do not make too many local
calls and do not talk for a long period of time. If you need to make a lengthy phone call, use a pay
phone. A mobile phone is useful for contacting your family, especially in emergencies. The best
options are either to rent a phone at the airport or to bring your own phone, enabled for use in Japan.
It is very difficult to rent a phone at phone shops away from the airport, and if you are under 20 you
must have someone to act as your guarantor. Your host family or ICU CANNOT act as your
guarantor/contract holder. The mobile phone is your responsibility alone.
11. Do not use your host family’s Internet service without first receiving their permission. If your
host family allows you to access the Internet from their home, make sure to let them know how long
you will be online and try not to use this service continuously. Less than 30 minutes is ideal.
Wireless LAN might be available in some homes however, try not to use Skype, MSN/Yahoo
messenger or other Internet phone or chat services too much. Homestay programs are intended
to provide valuable chances to improve your spoken Japanese. Therefore, we hope you will take
advantage of the opportunities to spend time with your host family rather than chatting on the
internet all the time. Please be aware that computers and Internet are available for SCJ
participants at the university library.
12. Ask your host family how to use the air conditioner and follow their instructions. Usually,
your family will set the air conditioner to 28°C, since the Ministry of the Environment recommends
this. It also saves on electricity. Summer weather in Japan is very hot and humid but do not lower
the temperature without asking your host family. Please do not open the windows when the air
conditioner is on.
13. Your host family may not be happy about friends coming home with you, particularly when
no one else is at home. They may feel especially reluctant for you to entertain members of the
opposite sex or your boyfriend/girlfriend in their home. Please find out how they feel about
additional guests.
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