Culture Shock and Honest Thoughts from My First Homestay

San Francisco, which I visited on my first trip abroad.
"Next time, I want to go by myself," I thought.
I decided to go to that place again, this time on a homestay by myself.

◆ Homestay preparation in an era with little information

At that time, the internet was not yet widespread,
and information on studying abroad and homestays was limited.

The agents listed in magazines also
had mixed reputations...

Thinking that, I decided to
consult the older sister of a senior who had helped me last time,
and she introduced me to a Japanese coordinator living locally.

The means of communication was not email, but fax or international phone calls.

Because of the time difference, I mainly communicated via fax.

M-san, who was introduced to me,
was a person with an American husband and three children.

She ran a travel agency on her own,
and she provided truly kind support, from arranging flight tickets to airport transfers.

"If anything happens, contact me anytime."

I don't know how much that one sentence put me at ease.

◆ The unexpected homestay with "another Japanese person"

Finally, I arrived at my homestay.

…Or so I thought, but
there was already a Japanese exchange student there.

M-san offered, "Shall I look for another host?" but
I answered like this.

"It's fine. I will stay here."

I felt bad for the host family, and
I also felt a sense of relief having another Japanese person there.

In fact, that person had also just arrived and our English levels were similar,
so I felt relieved, thinking, "I've made a friend."

◆ The first culture shock

The sense of discomfort I felt immediately upon arrival.

Wearing shoes inside the house.

Walking around the room in boots,
and sitting on the sofa just like that.

And then putting feet up on the table.

Things that would definitely get you scolded in Japan
are normal here.

"This is America."

It was the moment I first truly realized the difference in culture.

◆ The Disappearing Alarm Clock

There was another incident that surprised me.

The alarm clock I brought from Japan
was gone the next day.

It seems the host family's child
took an interest in it and took it away.

When I told the host mother,

"Why did you leave it out?
You should put away important things.
Children think it's a toy and take it."

Honestly, I couldn't accept that.

"Isn't an alarm clock something you put by your pillow...?"

It was a moment where I was bewildered by the difference in values.

◆ A Homestay Where You're Not a "Guest"

As Christmas approached,
we were asked to make fried chicken.

"Oh, I'm not a guest."

I realized that a homestay isn't just a "stay," but
living together as a family.

◆ An Unforgettable Christmas Experience

A living room with a fireplace,
and a real fir tree for Christmas.

We all decorated it together,
and family and relatives gathered around.

It felt just like the atmosphere of New Year's in Japan.

There was a Secret Santa gift exchange,
and the one I received was from my host mother.

"When you see this ornament, remember us."

That's what she said as she handed it to me,
a small ornament shaped like a house.

It's a moment I still can't forget.

◆ Going out in pajamas!?

The morning of Christmas Day.

"We're going out in our pajamas!"

We headed to the home of my host family's grandmother.

There was another gift exchange there,
and we ate from the morning.

What was served was,
a dish like an American version of "suiton" (dumpling soup).

It was seasoned with peanut butter.

Honestly, it didn't really suit my taste,
but this too was a valuable experience.

◆ Things that don't match, and kindness

There were times I was bewildered by our different values.
There were also times I thought, "Honestly, this doesn't suit me."

But, even more than that,

there were many moments where I felt kindness and warmth.

◆ After finishing my first homestay

And just like that, my one-week homestay came to an end.

I returned home to Japan safely.

It was a short period, but

cultural differences,
lifestyle differences,
differences in values

and,

the experience of "living together."

Everything was a great learning experience for me.

It was then that I first realized that a homestay is an experience you cannot have just by traveling.

▶ Related Articles
👉 The story of the day I went abroad for the first time without being able to speak English
👉 The story of how I changed after attending an English conversation school when I couldn't speak English | Changes that happened in a year and a half

A homestay isn't just fun.

But there is so much more to gain from it.

That is what my first homestay experience taught me.
It was my first homestay experience.

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