Tips to welcome Japanese high school
students
At the door:
- In Japan, everyone takes their shoes off at the entrance hall called GENKAN.
- Some American homes do the same, but the majority do not.
- Please tell her/him at
the door about your family’s rules.
- After the tour of the house, please explain how to use the bathroom.
- Japanese students often leave the shower curtain out when they take a shower.
- Please show by a gesture that the shower curtain is placed “in” the tub while showering.
- Explain where towels are located for their use.
- Show the students how to lock the bathroom door and turn on the fan.
- If the bathroom is shared, please tell her/him to limit the time in the morning.
- It is common for a
Japanese girl to spend 30 min. in front of a mirror in
the bathroom.
- Go over the time for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Find out what she/he likes and dislikes.
- Explain the content of food before she/he eats to familiarize the student with American food.
- Japanese students can’t drink Dr. Pepper & Root Beer because they smell like Japanese medicine. Many students dislike milk & cheese but they all like ice cream!
- The first couple of days, a student won’t be able to eat much at the regular meal time due to jet lag.
- Please point out to her/him which food in refrigerator is OK to eat when she/she gets hungry. A student often gets hungry in the middle of the night.
- Please show by a gesture how to get snacks and drinks.
- Teach them how to use
the microwave.
- Please show the student
the difference between a flat sheet & fitted sheet
and explain that Americans sleep between the two sheets.
Please show where an extra blanket is just in case the
student feels cold at night.
- Please ask weekly if
she/he needs to wash clothes. The laundry is done by the
mothers in Japan so you may need to demonstrate. Please
show the student how to use the washing machine a few
times.
- Please contact one of
the education committee members and the Japanese language
teacher so that we can solve the situation as a team. We
will need to notify the student's family in Japan if
anything serious happens. The student should have his/her
insurance card with him/her but the student has to pay
cash then get reimbursed in Japan. Please remember to
save all the receipts and documents. Public School
Districts generally have insurance that covers an
accident at school or at a school activity.
- The Japanese host families covered all expense while our students were in Nishinomiya, so please do the same during their home stay.
- It would be nice if you could take them on a tour of Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, Green Bluff, etc, during the weekend.
- You can cooperate with
other host families. It would be funner for you and your
family plus allow the Japanese students to connect with
each other.
Prepared by the Spokane-Nishinomiya Sister City Society Education Committee:
- JoAnne Rehberg
- Misako Egner
- Atsumi McCauley