Japanese-Homestay Progr

Host families needed for August 2024 for the Homestay Program.

I am still seeking an expression of interest for the Homestay Program in August 2024. Sanno School would like to return to Solway after the pandemic, but I need your support as host families for 10-12 days of their stay. So far, I have 8 families signed up and the program will not go ahead if we are under 20. If you are considering this, please return the notice, speak to Karen at the office or send me an email at Ryoko.yamaoka@education.vic.gov.au 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me by email or catch me in the yard. 

Ryoko Yamaoka 

Homestay Program Coordinator 

JAPANESE HOMESTAY - A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOLWAY FAMILIES

 A message from a family

We have been part of the Japanese Homestay Program for 2 years with Priya being at Solway in Year 5 and Year 6. It has been a rewarding and enriching experience for us being a host family. We have very little Japanese language at home and some of our memorable times are laughing our heads off when trying to use hand gestures like charades to get across what we were saying. However, the students we had Ari and Rin, were great sports and joined in the fun. They even ate my cooking!

It's not about taking them on a tourist visit around Melbourne, it's about them being an extension of your family and participating in day-to-day life including playing sport. 

Everything we do is exciting and new to them. Ari spent her time with Priya at volleyball practice and watching Indra take part in Cross bike race and hung out with her friends.

The second year we had Rin, and we had organised a trip away as Indra was involved in a Cross bike race in Milawa. We stayed on a farm where there were horses and a dog called Trevor. This was a wonderful experience for Rin, she got to see kangaroos in the wild and hopping down the street near where we were staying. We stopped in Glenrowan where the girls got to dress up in old fashioned clothes. Rin had a ball.

The last day is always full of mixed emotions with all the kids together, lots of laughing, hugging and tears from everyone including us parents having to say goodbye to these wonderful kids. We are thrilled the school is expressing interest in bringing the program back. It's a unique opportunity for our kids to be involved in as not a lot of primary schools offer these programs. To this day we are still in contact with the families, with the hope to get to Japan to visit them in a couple of years time. 

From Simons Family (Indra- Year 3)