We at Shinagawa-ku International Friendship Association (SIFA) introduce students from Portland, Maine in the U.S., Geneve in Switzerland and Auckland in
New Zealand to host families in Shinagawa City every other year as one of our international exchange programs.
All the students staying with their host families in the city show very strong interest in Japanese culture and lifestyle and wish to establish very meaningful and productive friendships with people in Japan. Therefore, we truly need you as host families to let the students in your house enrich their knowledge about Japan.
CONDITIONS TO ACCPET A STUDENT AT YOUR HOUSE AS A HOST FAMILY
You need to be a family. (One-person home is not acceptable as a host family.)
You need to be able to take the student in your house to such designated
places as Shinagawa City Office on the days he or she participates in a joint activity with other students and you need to be able to pick him or her up after the activity ends.
You need to provide a room in your house to the student. It is possible for your family members to share a room with him or her. Also, you need to pay all the living expenses necessary for him or her during his or her stay in your house.
You need to meet all the conditions above in order to accept a student at your house as a host family.
As a host family, you do not have to do anything special for the student you accept. It is normal that you will have many questions if you consider becoming a host family because the student you accept is from a completely different environment in a foreign country. Therefore, we will provide you with tips on how to deal with the student in a positive manner.
