Can A Japanese Exchange Student Bring Life To A Dream

Last updated on July 27th, 2014 at 10:19 pm

It’s been awhile since I’ve talked about my Japan dream, but it’s still there, a little on the back burner. A date hasn’t been set yet. I’m hoping for 2010 but it could be 2011.

An opportunity kind of plopped in my lap last week. A mother of my daughter’s friend called to see if my family would like to host a Japanese exchange student for the two week holiday break.  I didn’t really have to think about it: Um, yes? Convincing the rest of the family was what I was worried about.

My youngest daughter didn’t hesitate at all with a “YES!”

The oldest was more nonchalant. “Whatever.”

My husband was a little tougher to convince.

“We’d have another teenager (pill) in the house? What if she’s more moody than the one we’ve got? Won’t it be awkward having her here for two weeks?”

I said it’s just an experience. If we don’t like it than we won’t have to do it again.

I personally think it’s a great opportunity to learn a little bit of the Japanese culture, and at the same time, help the student learn about the USA. Plus, we will have a contact when we go to Japan. She can tell us where to go to and what to stay away from. That is, of course, if she can speak enough English!

Even if she can’t, what an experience it will be to have a little bit of “Japan” in our house. Hopefully our crazy family won’t scare her away from America forever;)  It will be a little strange for her to look at my husband and forget that he doesn’t know a thing or word of Japan. Maybe her family can be a host for one of my daughters when they get older.

The group of students will be coming on Dec. 23rd, and the host families will meet them that night. Hopefully, I’ll find out exactly who I get before then so we can communicate with her. The age range is 12-16. We requested someone 13-14.

We will have her for two weeks, and during that time they will have 5 days of classes 9-4. The rest of the time will be spent with us. There are a couple of field trips during the classes that my kids and I can participate in, one of them being SF.

So we’re excited! There will definitely be some adjustments. My youngest daughter will have to give up her room for two weeks, but she doesn’t mind. My 14 year old is not too happy about sharing her room with her sister, but too bad! Christmas might be a little awkward but we’re cutting back on gifts this year anyway.

On another note, we had our 8 Women Dream party on Friday and had all eight of us together in person for the first time! It was a lot of fun seeing everyone. Hopefully we got some good pictures and will post them soon.

Till next week,

Kim

(Kim has already accomplished her first big dream by traveling to New York with her teenage daughter June of 2009. She lost 20 pounds and overcame her intense dislike (do we say fear?) of flying to accomplish that dream. She rotated off the blog in February 2010, but still hangs out with 8 Women Dream.  You can find her in the comments section)