Student Ambassador Delegation.

[Magami No ER]

I just read a letter that said I was invited to participate in a Summer of 2006 student ambassador trip to Japan, of all places, for my community service work with certain organization. This would be my first time out of the country.^^; It would be really interesting to see the peace Pangoda and ascend halfway up Mt. Fuji, earn myself a HS credit, and of course, be convient, since I know a thing or two about Nihon, save for the language. Has anyone ever been with an "adopted" family? Just curious to hear anything I should know, if I should be able to accept this.........
Thanks.^^

[ffl]

Go for it!:D Student exchange programs are fun.^_^ Hmm... if you have health problems when it comes to large amounts of second hand smoke though... you may want to think about it or see if you can make some requests regarding that or whatever.

If you accept it, they'll likely have orientations to answer your questions and inform you of various things as well as hype you up for it.;) If it's a free trip, accept it if you're able to. If it's not free... hmm... you can usually send out letters to various businesses asking them for donations to help you go on this trip so that you can broaden your views and learn more. Hehe, and don't forget the thank you letters for those who do donate.^_^ Anyway, accept it!:thumbsup:

[Magami No ER]

^Thanks. :)

[Prons]

Magami! While you're there get me Japanese translators.

[Magami No ER]

I'd try. :P

[{NG}Fidel]

^^^ Your so Lucky!
I am planing on Going to Japan for a Student Exchange Program next year or my Senior year. They have programs but they are expensive! If my dad understands he will pay for it all since hes not short on cash. Of course since my parents are divorced he gets out of that stuff. Just says "I give your mother money for things like that" But since this is Education related I dont think he can say that to me.

[Jake]

Me, I'm just waiting until college to study abroad... I'm sticking with my AP classes for now!

[Magami No ER]

Anything else I should know about host families?

[Prons]

Anything else I should know about host families?

They're usually pretty nice and respectful, some aren't, I know someone here can probably point you to a site full of wonderful stories about people and their host family.

From what I've heard, some are nice, but others will just kind of ignore you, some may take you in sort of as "one of their own" (Kind of like how on American sticoms there's always that cousin or someone who comes and stays for a season or two).

[Magami No ER]

Thanks. At least I don't look like a typical blonde/blue eyed gajin....("not that there's anything wrong with that". :P)

[Magami No ER]

Well, I head off tomorrow. Should be an experience.

[Michiyo_Yoshiku]

Can I come with you?

[ffl]

Have fun.:)

[Suiko Eiji]

Anything else I should know about host families?

I did a homestay when I was in High School in Germany, which is a bit different than a college level study abroad.

My advice, be polite and friendly as you can. Remember that you are operating in a bit different cultural circumstances. Some of your anime or manga interest might come in handy, especially if you know about some of the more well known series in Japan; Lupin III, Doraemon, Ghibli, etc. My German "parents" thought it was rather funny that I knew about (and still liked) Heino. Be wary about how you refer to your homestay parents; we were warned at the beginning by our teachers to still refer to them and Herr and Frau such-and-such, but most were pretty accepting to us calling them Vater/Vatti and Mutter Mutti. Try and mind the language gap as much as you can, too; my homestay parents knew little to no English, and pending on the area of Japan, yours might have about the same level. A simple phrase book would be handy to practice some stuff on the plane.

I'm not sure what the technical norm about visiting someone's house for extended stay; in Germany we were asked to bring a small gift like flowers or something. I am sure that anything small, representive of America (or New York, since that's the only part of the US that exists to them :lol:) would be adequate, too. Speaking of representitive of America, it was something I kept in the back of my mind, but I was young and foolish and let a few things slip out that while not exactly sensitive conversation in the US, it really changed the tone of conversation in Germany (no, I didn't mention anything about Nazis, but we did talk about the war - neither here nor there).

Like I said, friendly conversation - and try and keep up, too. They've probably got some wild stories to share and even more wild perceptions of America, just as we have wild perceptions of Japan.

[Magami No ER]

Aww, too bad I couldn't have read that before I left.^^;
My homestay parents(Located in Obu Shi (http://www.city.obu.aichi.jp/english_guide/obu_city.htm)) in were very friendly themselves, and it was interesting seeing the lives of older Japanese people(60's), usually all I hear about is the progressive and more free sprited youth. But thse folks were great.
I even picked up a few basic phrases/sentences because of them, and now I'm even more motivated to obtain a better grasp of the language, for reasons tht go beyond Japan's commercial/art works.
As for anime/manga, I actually hardly thought about it for the majority of my trip (expection being going to the Tokyo anime center, and buying a nice The-O figure), but I knew what I saw when I did see advertisments and such. One of the tour guides was surprsied I knew of Sazae-san on one of the "Yokoso! Tokyo" signs.
So yeah, it was great. The group I was in was way to large and loud for the streets of Shinjuku, going into resturants, ect, just to much for me. I don't like being associated with a group like that who makes such a huge presence and results in stares. ={
I still throughly enjoyed my trip however, and wouldn't mind going back if I got the chance someday.

[Suiko Eiji]

Aww, too bad I couldn't have read that before I left.^^;


Sorry I found the thread too late.

I'm glad you had a fun, educational time and it has inspired you academically. I wish you the best of luck from here on out.