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Post by CaptainSeery on Feb 9, 2017 14:23:15 GMT 9
A big delegation from my city will be visiting our sister city in March to celebrate the 20th anniversary of our exchange. We are a poor town and so we cannot do these trips often. I have found some 資料 from the last trip ten years ago, but not a ton.
In preparation, I am putting together a packet of useful 英会話 phrases and useful information to know about being abroad (with an emphasis on doing homestays.) This packet is primarily aimed at the high school students who are going with us, but will be handed out to everyone.
I am a-okay on the 英会話 stuff, but I was wondering what kind of stuff might be useful to put into the "doing a homestay/being abroad" part of the packet. Obviously I am not a Japanese person so I am not sure what they might be surprised about, or might not know.
Things I've thought of so far / have found in previous 資料: - Most bathrooms have toilet, sink, and shower all together - Lots of people shower in the mornings, but feel free to shower at night if you prefer that - Depending on the family, you may or may not take off shoes inside; follow your host family's lead - Don't be stupid about your wallet; Australia is safe but is not Japan - Don't 遠慮 too much (your host family might think you don't want to do something when you are just being polite) - Try all the food at least once - Make your bed - If the door to the bathroom is closed, someone is in there so don't barge in. Likewise, when you finish using it, leave the door open
(Re: the bathroom door. This is how it works in my family, and it was written in the packet from ten years ago, but I don't know how widespread it is. Is that true for your families as well?)
Anything else that would be good to make sure the kids are aware of? |
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Post by Aya Raincoat on Feb 10, 2017 12:29:05 GMT 9
I once had an exchange student at my house who didn't know they had to close the shower curtain (assuming some people have them in Australia).
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Post by marudate on Feb 10, 2017 15:37:50 GMT 9
Maybe check with your bank about a debit card that can be used abroad?
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Post by むちゃRABU❤ on Feb 13, 2017 13:58:59 GMT 9
I have never been to america so I cannot say, but as someone who has taken Japanese people in, please emphasize that they need to take initiative and/or take initiative to at least ask and not wait around?
from my experience, they just wait around for instructions like robots a lot and that's not how homestays work sometimes?
also, feel free to express if they are uncomfortable with something and on the other hand openly express when they are comfortable with something.
some things as a host I find a little annoyed with when I had Japanese students over, is that they just shower for too long. understand that it is not your home so try to practice being mindful of showering/switching lights off diligently etc.
all in all, Japanese people hardly ever even have their hulemdos over to their home (it is very rare, in any case). so some of them may feel awkward being in a strangers home as they never did it before. understand that people who are hosts are used to it and them being awkward is really, just awkward for everyone.
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Post by CaptainSeery on Feb 13, 2017 15:44:58 GMT 9
Thank you!
A decent amount of the existing 資料 goes on about DON'T ENRYO you will cause meiwaku DON'T YOU DARE ENRYO which I think is aimed at getting across what you're talking about. And also how they are welcoming you into their family (hence "host family") and you should treat them as you would your own family, and the house as your house, etc etc. Basically, try not to let there be distance and speak your mind like you would with your own parents.
Easier said than done, though, of course.
Shower curtain is not something I thought of, thank you!
Everything is paid for (except personal expenses) so shouldn't need debit cards.
I did put in the thing that Australia has water shortages. I don't know if that's true at the moment, but I just put it in anyway to try to prevent said long showers. Also that people probably don't take baths much, so... don't.
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Post by marudate on Feb 13, 2017 15:46:56 GMT 9
So how will they get cash for personal expenses?
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Post by CaptainSeery on Feb 13, 2017 15:54:59 GMT 9
So how will they get cash for personal expenses? The travel agency is suggesting that people tell them in advance how much spending money they want. Then when we meet the 添乗員 at the airport she would give them the AUD in exchange for JPY.
I don't know what the exchange rate would be like, but given how much Japanese people seem to rely on travel agents for a hassle-free trip I imagine most people will go for that option.
If not, we will have several hours in Melbourne Airport before our flight to the sister city, and people can exchange money there.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2017 11:34:43 GMT 9
This is a random one, but if they are doing homestays I would reccomend them bringing up a conversation about breakfast:
if they want to eat it, and who is expected to make it.
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Post by TrickPhoenix on Feb 14, 2017 12:01:13 GMT 9
I'd just add as a disclaimer to the bathroom door thing that it's best to just knock if the door is shut, rather than assume that someone's in there.
We always had dogs in my family, so the bathroom doors always had to be shut lest they start getting ideas about drinking out of the toilet... so if someone who judged bathroom occupancy on an open-or-closed basis had come, they would've struggled in my household.
But "knock first" is a good rule for either type of household!
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Post by CaptainSeery on Feb 14, 2017 14:14:22 GMT 9
Yes it is! I will be sure to note that.
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Post by Dee on Mar 7, 2022 11:15:13 GMT 9
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