|
|
Last
Up Date（2004/08/17） Tips for Your HomestayA Homestay in Japan?
How exciting! You'll be experiencing the real Japanese way of life. Before you
go, let us give you some handy tips so you'll feel more comfortable & at home.
IN THE HOUSE -First encounter with a Japanese family's daily life KUTSU,
shoes -where to take them off-
Japanese people do not wear shoes in the
house. You are supposed to take them off and leave them nicely at the entrance.
Going out? Of course put them back on! There are some places in the house where
you wear slippers, such as in the toilet, and sometimes in the kitchen & hallway.
Do not wear them in a tatami* room. The best advice is to just watch what your
host family members do, and follow their cue.
GOHAN,
meals
Dinnertime is when all the family members get together to eat &
talk about what they did during the day. On the table you may find all different
kinds of food, from traditional Japanese food to Chinese & western food, all
made with your host mum's love. To eat, people usually use chopsticks, so why
not have a go using them! But if you find it hard, don't be embarrassed to ask
for a fork or spoon. A typical Japanese meal comes with rice and miso** soup served
in bowls. It's OK to lift it up & hold the bowl in your hand when eating the
rice & soup. Also, you may find people eating noodles and making a noise...try
not to laugh or panic! In Japan it's OK to do this, but remember it's only when
eating noodles! OTEARAI, toilet
 In
a Japanese style restroom you are supposed to squat over the toilet (facing away
from the door) with no bodily contact at all. Types of toilets in Japanese homes
vary from old classical style ones that only have a hole underneath, to some with
a water tank for flushing and of course western style ones. Hotels and most large
restaurants have western style toilets.
OFURO,
bath & shower
 Many
Japanese people prefer a nice hot bath to a quick shower. It's a time for relaxing
and refreshing their bodies & minds. Little kids may take a bath with their
mum, dad or grandparents. It's also playtime for little brothers & sisters.
Note that some houses don't have showers. When taking a
bath
- Make sure you wash your body outside of the tub, and that no soap
of any sort makes its way into the tub.
- Draw water from the tub or use tap
water to thoroughly rinse the soap off.
- Do not drain the water, as the
next person will use it.
- Always be thoughtful of the next person. When
going on a trip and using a big public bath
Japanese inns have a big bathroom
where guests can all go and it usually has a huge bathtub that many people can
use at the same time (Men & Women separated). You use it is just like the
bath at home, however, you have to be a little more careful not to splash water
on people around you. When getting in and out of the bath, people usually walk
around naked and just cover their front with a small hand towel. FUTON,
set of pillow, duvet, blanket & mattress
 You
can sleep on FUTONS! It's another fun Japanese cultural experience. Each family
member usually spreads their FUTON out for him/herself on tatami at bedtime. In
the morning you fold it & put it back in the closet. Ask how, and your family
will be very happy to teach you. | MORE
USEFUL TIPS -things you want to keep in mind- Tell
them about your country
Your host family is really interested in your
country, culture, customs, family, daily school life etc. Photos and traditional
games are a very useful & fun way to introduce your culture. You might also
like to show them pictures of your family, friends, school and workplace. They
will be happy to know about your life at home.
Learn
about Japan, too
They would also like you to experience and learn about
things that are special to Japan and the local area. So try and remember what
they show you, enjoy conversation and show your appreciation. Don't worry about
the language barrier (if there is one) too much. You'll be fine. Giggle with a
dictionary and remember that a SMILE can speak a thousand words. Give
them your hands
It's always nice to ask them what you can do to help,
e.g. preparing meals, doing dishes. At first they might refuse your offers, but
if you persist then they will realize that you genuinely do want to help. If
you don't know, ASK about anything.
Don't be shy, they are more than happy
to tell things and explain. Follow the family
rules
You are expected to follow the family rules, i.e. time for meals,
bath, going to bed etc. Tell them necessary
info about yourself
- allergies or dietary restrictions
- if you are
troubled by pets, smoking, alcohol, etc
- what you like / would like to do
with your host family to have an enjoyable stay. They might be a bit nervous and
anxious to please you at first, and so feel relieved when you make a suggestion. |
Miscellaneous Personal
items
Bring your necessary personal items such as money, camera, towels,
& toothbrush. Photos of your family, friends, school & home, as well as
books on your home country will help your host family to get to know you.
Telephone
calls
Please pay for private telephone calls. When calling internationally,
the number below is useful, as charges are given to you immediately after your
call is finished.
002 - Country Code - Area Code - Personal Phone Number Personal
expenses
Please offer to pay for your own personal expenses e.g. admission
fees, phone calls, & fares for transportation. Just be yourself and
remember "YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY". Don't forget to take your
sunshine SMILE with you. :-) *tatami - A mat used as flooring material
in traditional Japanese style rooms.
**miso -Soy bean paste: the basic
flavouring of Japanese cuisine in addition to soy sauce. Good source of protein.
|
|
