July 18, 2023
Needed: Two Host Families for Japanese Youth!
If you would like to host a Japanese delegate, please don’t delay as we have two boys yet to place in homes. The experience is for 3 1/2 weeks. Families don’t have to have a planned vacation as the best home stay is the daily family route. Several delegates have participated in the local fair and families have commented that it’s great to have an extra set of hands to assist. The delegates can also attend school if host sibling school starts before the return date. Host sibling can be 2-3 years younger or older.
Delegates needing homes are:
Two-15-year-olds:
• Yoshihiro Y. – Plays piano and makes videos. He enjoys visiting science museums. He wants to try new things and make friends.
One-16-year-old:
• Taiki M. – Enjoys singing, making LEGOs, and cooking. Allergic to cats, however he wants to learn American culture.
If you are interested in hosting a delegate this summer from July 24 – August 16. Please visit the following website: https://www.states4hexchange.org/apply/host. There is a required application with references. In addition, there will be an in-home interview conducted as well as background checks conducted for all adults living in the household.
Kansas 4-H is responsible to make host family assignments matching each delegate with an American same-gender host sibling for learning and experience first-hand. Any Kansas family (does not have to be a 4-H family), with children aged 10-15, who is interested in the Japanese culture, may host. A separate bed is required, but not necessarily a separate room from the host sibling. Delegates are 100 percent medically covered with 4-H insurance and bring their own spending money. They can go on host family vacations, camping trips, or join their host sibling for summer camps and the county fair. The focus is everyday family life. If you have further questions, please call Pam Van Horn, Kansas 4-H Japanese Exchange Coordinator, 785-826-8917, or email pvanhorn@ksu.edu.
Benefits: Increase your family’s cross-cultural and global understanding, broaden family communication skills, make a new friend from another country, and have fun while leaning about Japan in your own home.
What you do: The host family treats the delegate as a family member (rather than a tourist/guest) and keeps a “regular” family schedule. That could mean chores, fairs, camping, ballgames, etc.... very busy –or not so busy. It just depends on what your family likes to do! Most delegates will have studied English for one year in school. They are usually shy and don’t want to make mistakes –so the first few days getting them to talk may be a challenge! The host family needs to be pro-active on ways to communicate without words, or using a Japanese/English translation dictionary, etc. Adult chaperones come with the youth so the host family can visit with the Japanese chaperones if they are having challenges and need assistance. Chaperones are always available by phone, when needed.