Home Away From Home...Homestay thoughts by Team Member, Tereena

Sunday morning at the Kobe Hotel saw a chatty group of Australians sharing their amazing experiences with their host families. Tales of interesting meals, generous hosts and a wide variety of activities were shared. The host families lived in a variety of apartments and houses, both inner city and in the mountainous countryside. We were able to experience relaxing in Japanese おふろ (deep baths) and sleeping on ふとん in たたみ rooms. Walking around the local neighborhood and sharing information about everyday life and tourist attractions in both Japan and Australia, I personally found that I could speak and understand more Japanese than I had expected. I could converse easily with the children, who were very excited to practice their English skills. I played card games and Wii, watched soccer training and TV, shared photos and videos from Australia. Many of us had lessons in cooking Japanese dishes, and even shared the idea of using avocado in makizushi (unheard of in Japan!). I am sure many of us have made friends with whom we will continue to maintain contact. Homestay has definitely added a valuable extra dimension to the tourist experience. A side note from Melissa: the host families were voluntary and coordinated by Hyogo International Association. We extend our heartfelt thanks to HIA and all families involved for their warmth and generosity.