Is there certain etiquette I should follow while in my homestay?
Yes. Japanese life is imbued with etiquette.
Telephone
In general, don’t use the family telephone. Phone calls are very expensive in Japan; each local call has a charge. In addition, telephone bills are not usually itemized, so it’s difficult to determine the cost of your calls. International calls from Japan are significantly more expensive than calls from the U.S.
If, in an urgent situation, you are going to have your family call the host family phone, be sure to tell your host family first. Many host families don’t speak English and would be disconcerted to hear English spoken on the phone. Be aware of the time difference between your U.S. home and Japan.
Smoking
If you smoke, check with the family about rules for smoking in the house. Ask your host family where you can smoke.
Borrowing Money
Please do not borrow money from your host family. Lending money is rare in Japan unless it’s a real emergency. If you have a money emergency, first tell family or friends back home.
Living Expenses
The fee KCP pays host families does not cover: lunch, telephone, laundry, toiletries, alcoholic beverages, sweets or snacks, and so on. Set up a budget and follow it. Japan is a very expensive country to live in, so be careful with your money. Plan carefully, and don’t spend aggressively in the first few weeks of the program.
Inviting Guests
If you’d like to invite friends to your host family’s home, get permission first. Remember that your guests are your responsibility. DO NOT invite friends for overnight stays.
Issues or Concerns
Japanese people generally avoid conflict. Whenever possible, KCP asks host families to talk about concerns or problems with you directly. But this is not customary in Japanese society. If you feel there are any problems, please talk sincerely about your feelings and try to resolve them. If you do not feel comfortable talking about problems with your hosts, please talk to your student coordinator. Language and cultural misunderstandings are usually the cause of most problems.
If problems arise between you and your host family, tell the student coordinator immediately and then try to talk to your family. Often, problems can be resolved by patience, listening, understanding, and a sense of humor. If problems seem too hard to resolve, consult the KCP student coordinator again. Changing your host family can happen only in an emergency or for a persistent, severe problem that cannot be solved.
Japan is very different from your home country, with very different cultural and social expectations. Accept the differences. After all, that is why you are choosing the homestay experience.