K Family
【Guest’s home country】Australia
【Homestay period】3 nights
【Favorite food in Japan】Okonomiyaki
【Food they tried for the first time】Natto
【Places we visited together】Hot springs in Hakone, Southern Beach Chigasaki
In our family, we started hosting mainly for the benefit of our children. No one in our household is particularly good at English conversation, but in reality we found that communication came naturally and conversations flowed more than expected. Because neither side is speaking in their native language, expressions tend to be simple, which can actually make it easier to convey feelings honestly. Even after the guest returned home, we keep in touch through social media, and the experience has become irreplaceable for our family.
M Family
【Guest’s home country】Australia
【Homestay period】3 nights
【Favorite food in Japan】Ramen from “Kiraku” in Shibuya
【Interests】Volleyball, Anime
Last year, through the Chigasaki International Association, we hosted the guest, a medical student from Australia, for three days. At the time, our children were only one and three years old, so we were a little worried that they might be too noisy or that he might feel obliged to be considerate around them. However, those worries soon disappeared.
He was very gentle and treated the children with great kindness. From the first day, he quickly became close to them, talking and playing with them, and the atmosphere at home remained bright and warm throughout his stay. Even now, our older daughter still sometimes talks about him which shows how strongly the experience has stayed with her.
We were also deeply touched by the wonderful souvenirs from Australia that he brought unexpectedly. He showed us unique ways to enjoy Vegemite and fun ways to eat the snack “Tim Tam,” which left a strong impression. Although his stay was short, we never ran out of things to talk about, from differences in culture to everyday life.
During his stay, we visited an exhibition in Tokyo by an artist friend of mine. It was memorable to see how intently he looked at the works on display. After that, we strolled around Shibuya, visited Meiji Jingu Shrine, and shared many different sides of Japan together. We also had in‑depth conversations across generations about parenting, future paths, and work, which became a valuable experience for me as well.
In fact, this was our very first experience hosting a guest. Because our first encounter was with him, we were left with such good memories that this year we decided to host a French university student as well. In our work, we are often helped by people from overseas, so we hope that, in a small way, hosting will allow us to give something back through international interacting. We also feel that growing up while being exposed to different cultures is a great benefit for our children.
From now on, we look forward to continuing our activities as a host family, deepening interacting while coming into contact with a variety of cultures from around the world.
K Family
【Guest’s home country】France
【Homestay period】3 weeks
In France, it is generally considered good manners not to make noise while eating. At first, our guest seemed puzzled by the sound of slurping noodles in Japan, but after a few days he began imitating the way we ate, loudly slurping his noodles and making everyone laugh. It was a moment when we could joyfully embrace cultural differences.
Early in the morning, he experienced zazen meditation at a nearby temple and spent quiet time calming his mind in the stillness. That sense of tranquility was new to him, and he told us, “I did not know my mind could become so calm. I want to make this part of my everyday life after I go home.”
Another memorable moment was when he played our home piano. Inspired by the mood of the day, he improvised pieces ranging from classical to original works, filling the house with his rich musical sensibility. Later, we learned that he had given one of the pieces the title “Days Spent with My Second Family,” which truly warmed our hearts. The three weeks passed in the blink of an eye, but for our family it was an invaluable experience that left us feeling a deep bond.
