On May 17, we traveled from Isahaya to Minamata, which is infamous for the disease that carries its name (it is interesting to note that several decades ago the citizens requested the disease be renamed something else; an effort that eventually failed).

In Minamata students were welcomed into family homes for two nights. For many students it was their first time to experience a home stay anywhere, let alone in Japan. They were both excited by the prospect of making new close friends and anxious about communicating only in Japanese. Their years of language training were on display as soon as the families pick them up to drive them home. At that point, they were on their own, and I knew that despite their concerns, the kind people of Minamata would take care of them.

Of course, for students the benefits of doing a home stay are innumerable. Apart from language practice in a real-life setting, students are able to set foot into a Japanese home, which comes with the cultural lessons of appropriate behaviors in different spaces (genkan, bath, dinner table). All of their previous lessons about cultural norms and etiquette are put to the test. Finally, they are able to explain something about themselves and their homes. For those who haven’t been outside Singapore, this includes explaining their country and possibly seeing it from an outsider’s perspective for the first time.

After two nights with their families, the students had a new appreciation for the everyday life of at least one Japanese family. They had stories to share and comparisons to make with other families. When we said farewell, the students and hosts thanked each other for the shared memories and wished each other well. Many of them have already become Facebook friends, and I hope they will stay in contact for years to come. Special thanks to Mr. Nishi of Shiranui Kan Planning for making the home stay arrangements and for all the families that participated.

All Minamata home stay families and students

The Onizuka family

The Ōsawa family

The Matsumoto family

The Fukuda family

The Einaga family