How many people have a clear idea of what a homestay is ?
Perhaps those who are inexperienced with homestays have a vague image of it, but they may not have a clear understanding of what it is.
"Well.. I’ll probably figure it out once I experience it.”
If one has the ability to adapt to environmental changes, then it won’t be a problem. However, there are those who have been disappointed because their image of what homestay did not meet up with what they expected.
アメリカという慣れない土地での生活が始まるのですから、ただでさえ最初はストレスを感じることもあるでしょう。
それが唯一の安らぎの場所になるはずの”滞在先”でも落ち着かないとしたら、それは苦痛だと思いませんか？
I have mentioned in other articles what homestay is so far. In the following, I will explain again what it means to do a homestay and why people choose to do it.
If you are interested in homestay, please use the following as a reference.
What is a homestay?
I will get into the main subject.
What exactly is it we offer?
It is ...
It's about renting a room in a host family's house and living together like a family.
Some people think that a homestay is equivalent to a hotel because it has a private room and meals are provided, but it is a completely different entity.
The person staying in a homestay spends time with the host family as a member of the family, not as a guest.
Because you are not a guest but a family member, you have the responsibility of taking care of yourself such as washing the dishes after eating and maintaining the cleanliness of your room and bathroom.
Keep in mind that the host is not a maid who takes care of everything around you.
So what are the benefits of doing a homestay?
Benefits of having a homestay
As mentioned previously, homestaying is living with American hosts as a member of their family.
It is reassuring to have someone in the U.S. that you can rely on like a family.
This is also one of the benefits of homestay.
We will also look at other benefits.
① You can improve your English language skill.
There are only a few partnered host families that are Japanese speakers.
Over 90% of hosts speak English.
That means English is necessary for communicating with the host.
You will be able to always expose yourself in an English environment.
Speaking and listening skills especially are the important keys in determining how much of those skills you are able to demonstrate.
No matter how much you learned in school, your English language ability will not improve unless you put them into real-life practice. (> _ <)
You will be able to speak more naturally by talking with the host often.
This is a good opportunity to try out the grammar you learned in school.
② They are willing to help you when in trouble.
You want to go to the hospital because you’re not feeling well.
But you don't know how to get to the hospital, you don't know how the examination goes, nor understand medical terms in English.
There are many international students who are hesitant to go to the hospital because the hurdles are too high.
There are cases where their luggages has been stolen or they have been in an accident, and they were unsure what to do.
Of course, if you encounter any problems you can contact us and we can help you what to do in those situations.
But wouldn't you feel relieved if you had a host family close to you that you can go for help at any time?
Your host family can help you in the event of an emergency.
There are some times where hosts are willing to listen to life problems or help you with your homework.
As everything about Japan is completely different from America, living alone in the U.S. would be quite challenging.
Therefore, it is very helpful and reassuring to have someone close to you who you can rely on like a family.
③ Ability to do cross-cultural exchange.
There are many cultural customs in the U.S. that are not found in Japan.
For instance, Thanksgiving, which celebrates the harvest of agricultural products and cultivated food, is a tradition not found in Japan.
The event to celebrate the harvest can be observed as well in Japan depending on the region, but the food you eat is different.
Thanksgiving in the U.S. entails gathering of families together to eat a lot of traditional dishes such as turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, pumpkin pies, and pecan pies.
Not only can homestay provide you with an opportunity to try these traditional foods, but it also gives you an opportunity to learn about an aspect of American culture.
Spending relaxing time with families on Christmas day is different from Japan. Even Halloween is grand and fun in America.
As Los Angeles consists of many races, our hosts come from various roots such as Asian, Latin, European, and Middleastern.
Being able to experience various cultures besides American culture is one of the attractions of homestaying.
Reasons why people choose homestay.
Those who seek the aforementioned benefits of homestay are the ones who choose homestays.
If the following summary of lists are applicable to you, then perhaps homestay is for you.
- I want to improve English speaking and listening skills
- I want someone you can rely on when I’m in trouble
- I’m interested in cross-cultural exchange.
- I don’t like cooking for myself.
- I want to stay in a furnished room.
- I want to make friends with American people.
Who is not suitable for homestay?
Some people prefer a dormitory or room share rather than a homestay.
What are those types of people?
I want to live at my own pace.
Any host families have house rules.
For instance, there is a certain time for eating dinner with family, shower hour, and etc.
If you want to eat dinner on your own time and take a shower whenever you like, homestay may feel a bit constrained.
People who want to live freely at their own pace are more suitable for staying in dormitories or room sharing.
I want to cook for myself
For safety reasons, many host families don’t allow the usage of an oven and stove.
You can use a microwave, but cooking with it would not be a good idea.
Dormitories may not be suitable for those who want to prepare their own meals every day. In this case, room sharing may be more suitable.
I want a private bathroom.
In homestays, it is common to share bathrooms with family and other roommates.
If you really want a private bathroom, ask the agent to introduce you to a host with a private bath in advance.
However, there are not many houses with private bathrooms, so requests may not be 100% guaranteed.
If having a private bathroom is an absolute requirement, consider doing a room share with a private bath.
Summary
I explained to you what homestay is and the perks.
Whether it is a homestay, dormitory, or room share, there will be advantages and disadvantages.
You can reduce mistakes by organizing your priorities and figuring out which way of stay is right for you.
We have collected surveys of our former homestay participants, so please feel free to take a look at what they say as your reference.
What is the purpose of homestay in the US?
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
English 
日本語