Review from Kagoshima family
We received a beautiful review from the family in Kagoshima who stayed with us last March.
We are so thankful for this opportunity to meet so many precious people through our homestay program.
Thank you, for taking time to reflect your stay and write it down so that more people can see what you experienced.
Below is the review from the mother ⇩
We decided to go as a family of three after having a preliminary meeting on Zoom. As we had no experience with homestays, we were hesitant about spending several days with someone we never met. However, the warmth that came through the screen from Yoko-san and John-san quickly put our minds at ease, and the children soon started looking forward to the day of departure.
When we got off the train, John-san was waiting for us with a smile. The children immediately became friends, and they didn't leave John-san's side even during the shopping trip on the way home. Although John-san spoke fluent Japanese, when we mentioned that the children were learning English, he always spoke in clear and slow English. John-san was skilled in DIY projects. We could feel the love put into each and every renovation of their home and the creative greenhouse filled with ideas.
When the children asked, John-san kindly agreed to make a small storage box in the shape of a house using wooden pieces. They cut the wooden boards with a saw and secured them together with nails. The children's eyes were shining throughout the process, and it seemed they experienced a great sense of accomplishment through this unusual experience.
The surroundings of the house consisted only of rice fields, vegetable gardens, and mountains. Living surrounded by nature, both the children and I were able to spend our time in peace. The children enjoyed picking small flowers and "fukinotou" (butterbur sprouts) on the nearby walking path to the temple and ancient burial mound. We could truly feel the arrival of spring. Yoko-san made tempura with the picked fukinotou for dinner. Despite a slight bitterness, the children happily devoured it, exclaiming, "Delicious!" The taste of the fukinotou they found and picked themselves was exceptional.
Also, there was a time when Yoko-san and John-san kindly shared some venison with us for dinner. It was my first time trying venison, and it was surprisingly delicious without any gamey taste. Usually, the children complain of headaches from the fat in beef, but they quickly became captivated by the light and tender venison.
I had particular concerns about raising my son, but I remember feeling a great sense of relief after having a late-night conversation with Yoko-san. The advice I received from Yoko-san, who raised five children of her own, was that "Children won't fit into the framework parents try to impose on them. It's necessary to guide them, but eventually, they will make their own decisions and become adults. It's important to watch over them with warmth and a big heart." I reflected on the fact that we were always busy with extracurricular activities and lacked quality time together as a family. I felt that the sons and daughters raised by Yoko-san must be happy. Meeting Yoko-san has made a significant impact on how I will approach my own parenting from now on.
On the final day, when we said our goodbyes, John-san smiled and said, "I hate a good boy." It meant that being a good child is boring. On the contrary, being a good child is what worries him. He reassured us that although it may be challenging now, our children will grow up to be responsible adults and forget about these worries. Those words encompassed everything they had told us before, and I couldn't help but shed tears. I truly felt that coming here was the best decision.
It was only five days, but I had never experienced such warmth in those five days before.
At the farewell, Yoko-san handed me some grilled venison, saying, "Please take this with you." On the bus, the children happily and unabashedly devoured it. In the end, I only managed to eat one piece (laughs).
The small house-shaped storage boxes that children made together with John-san are now displayed in our room, treasured and cherished.