Japan Homestay 1999 - Tokyo Region & Hokkaido
3 - 18 Dec 99

Article by team leader, Mazhar Abdul Hamid

"Konnichiwa", "Ohayogozaimasu", "Oyasuminasai", "Arigatogozaimasu", "Sumimasen" etc ..... .

Those were the words that the youth participants from Joo Chiat CC Youth Group learnt during their homestay in Japan. At one look they seemed to be simple but they meant a lot to these participants during the homestay.

The Japan Homestay Programme was jointly organised by Hippo Exchange Club under the umbrella of Joo Chiat CC Youth Group. The programme was held from 3 December to 18 December 1999. The youth participants were mainly students from Nanyang Technological University and a number of youths from the public.

The objective was to give opportunities to our youths to know more about the unique Japanese culture and lifestyle through living with host family. The homestay programme encompassed a 5-days stay in Tokyo and an 8-days stay in Hokkaido with families from the Hippo Family Club.

Homestay programme allows our youth participants to interact with their host families and hence know the daily activities and living habits of a Japanese family. It also allows them to mingle around with the Japanese people freely, very different from a guided tour programme whereby tourists are confined to sightseeing places and coach.

To most of our youth participants for this Japan Homestay Programme, this was their first time experiencing a homestay programme and many of them felt nervous initially. They were worried about the cultural differences and also the do's and the dont's in a Japanese family. However, after the homestay matching ceremony which was held at Tokyo Centre, our youth participants found themselves more at ease and wanted to know more of everything about Japan. And after days of homestay, their nervousness and uneasiness turned to enjoyment and fun and soon they were treated as part of the family.

During the homestay period, our youth participants pit their skills to cook Singapore famous food for their Japanese host families. They cooked 'Chicken Rice', 'Roti John', 'Bak Ku Teh', 'Bubur Pulut Hitam' and 'Cocktail jelly' and few others. Thumbs up was the response received from the Japanese.

During the stay in Tokyo, our youth participants also had the chance to attend the Hippo seminars and gatherings in Shibuya. They danced and sang songs in many different languages together with their Japanese host families and the newly found Japanese friends. During the free time, our youth participants visited Mount Fuji, shrines in Asakusa, hangouts for Japanese youths at Shinjuku and electronic stores at Akihabara.

On 8 Dec 1999, we moved further north to Hokkaido and the temperature of 8 to -4 degrees Celsius to experience and feel the heavy snow. That was the moment we have been eagerly waiting for. And what more with the opportunity to ski in one of the grandest ski resort. Besides that trying their hands on the Japanese Tea Ceremony was another experience. For those who love Sapporo Beer and Japanese Sake will not miss their factories with special landmarks in Hokkaido. An old history of Clock Tower and shopping alley in Susukino are also the ”must-visit” places in Hokkaido. Of course, the most memorable and heartfelt experience was to meet our warm and friendly host families in Hokkaido. Their warmth has somehow made Hokkaido warmer.

On the whole, the homestay programme in Japan was very well received by our youth participants. As quoted from some youth participants, Mathew, Annie, Joe and Pui Yee.
"We were glad to be in this programme. We sure it will not be the last of our homestay. The host family of 'Okaasan', 'Otosaan','Imoto','Ototo' were very warm and friendly. They really treated us like one of their family members. It was an enriching one, an eye opener and a wholesome experience of Japanese life".

Our youth participants also felt a sense of closeness with their host family. This was shown till the last day of their stay. An emotional departure, a moment with tears being held back, was clearly a homestay programme which will never be forgotten for the rest of their life. And this has made them to join another homestay programme in the future.

As for my homestay experience, even though this was my second time, the experience of fasting (Ramadhan) for the first time in winter season was something new and it gave me the opportunity to explain the meaning of Ramadhan to my host family. The most unforgettable experience was the that the entire family woke up early in the morning at 4:30 am just to have breakfast together with me for my next fasting day! This was what home stay and cultural exchange was all about. Living as part of the family!

Last but not least, to be the group leader for the youth delegates was no easy task. However I am grateful to Hippo Exchange Club and Joo Chiat CC Youth Group for entrusting me with the duty to lead the group. And also without the co-operation and patience from our youth participants, this trip will never be a successful and memorable one. 'Jyaa Mata Ne'. See you at the next homestay programme! .

Konnichiwa : Good afternoon
Ohayogozaimasu : Good morning
Oyasuminasai : Good night
Arigatogozaimasu : Thank you
Sumimasen : Sorry
Okaasan : Mother
Otosaan : Father
Imoto ; Younger sister
Ototo : Younger brother
Jyaa Mata Ne : See you next time