2024 Homestay Program hosting Japanese students from Isahaya Commercial High School

We are delighted to share that two Japanese exchange students, Hisahiro Araki and Souki Yamashita, from our sister school in Nagasaki, Japan, completed their 8-week homestay program with us on 20th September. They safely returned to Japan the following day.

Both students had a memorable experience at St Andrews College. They made many friends and immersed themselves in our school community. Hisahiro and Souki expressed heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome they received, saying that they felt right at home thanks to the support and kindness of everyone here.

We would like to extend a special thank you to their host families. Hosting a student for such an extended period can be challenging, but your generosity, patience, and unwavering support ensured that our Japanese exchange students had a wonderful experience. Your hospitality made all the difference, and we are truly grateful for everything you have done.

We are excited to announce that one of our students will be travelling to Japan in December on the homestay program with our sister school. He is eagerly anticipating this unique cultural experience.

For any students interested in participating in future exchange programs, we encourage you to study Japanese at St Andrews College. We offer many opportunities to learn the Japanese language and explore its rich culture. Don’t miss out on this exciting chance to expand your horizons!

Thank you once again to everyone who made this exchange program a success.

Below is a piece from each student about their experience. 

My homestay program experience by Souki Yamashita

These past eight weeks have been amazing, and I had a wonderful experience. This homestay program was very worrying because I had never been abroad before, so I was nervous. Still, the time at St Andrews College and living with my host family gradually made me like Australia. This experience of visiting St Andrews College as exchange students allowed them to learn not only English but also Australian culture. So I think this helped me grow in various aspects. Also, I could learn many things in Australia, and it was very refreshing.

In school life, most things were different, such as the way classes were taught, the subjects, and the rules, which made everything enjoyable for me. I communicated with many students at St Andrews, not just those in Japanese class, and deepened my friendship with them during class and break times. But there were many times when I couldn’t keep up with the conversation and didn’t know what to do, so I had to ask my buddy for help. I often wished I could improve my English skills. Also, the experiences outside of school, such as the Thursday sports and excursions, were very educational and allowed me to discover new things about Australia.

The time I spent with my host family allowed me to learn about and experience everyday life in Australia. They were all very kind to me and gave me many experiences. On the weekend, we went sightseeing and camping, watched sports, went shopping, and more, and we had a wonderful time. Watching sports and camping were experiences that I would never have been able to have if I had just come to travel, so they were great experiences and remain solid memories for me. Also, while spending every day with my host family, at first, I had trouble getting used to life there. I often had trouble keeping a conversation going, resulting in many memories of silence without any conversation.

However, I gradually found a way to increase the number of conversations and improve my English skills, which are fond memories and experiences for me. I experienced everyday life in Australia through shopping and other activities. I also experienced ways of thinking that were different from those in Japan. In addition, eating habits were also different, which was a very interesting learning experience.

This eight-week study abroad experience was very good. It allowed me to experience various challenges, such as cultural differences and communication barriers. We also learn many things that I would not have been able to experience in Japan, such as the warmth of the people and life in Australia. I believe that the things I gained and learned during this study abroad experience will be a great asset in my future life. I also hope to overcome the challenges I faced during this study abroad, such as the difficulties of communication, and take on new challenges to use this experience in the future.

Overall, my study abroad in Australia allowed me to grow as a person through the various experiences I had with culture, social activities, and the differences in everyday lifestyles.

My second visit to Australia by Hisahiro Araki

Through this eight-week homestay program, I had a truly valuable time. This was my second time visiting Australia, but it was completely different from my last experience. I came to Australia with my classmates from my school last year. It was only two weeks, so it wasn’t very long. However, this time, there were only two Japanese students, including myself, and I had the opportunity to stay for eight weeks, which is much longer. 

I had the chance to stay with two different host families this time. The first family I stayed with was the family I stayed in my last visit. I had stayed with them last year, so this was my second time to visit them. Since it had been a year, I was excited to see them again. My host brother, Cameron hadn’t changed much since the last time we met. The rest of the family members were just as bright and welcoming as ever. However, one new addition to the family was an adorable cat named Sage. On the first night, I was quite tired from the long flight, but Sage was so cute that all my fatigue disappeared. The host family took me to various places like the city, the beach, and even ice skating. My host brother, Cameron belongs to a volleyball club, and I had the chance to join. It was quite intense but incredibly fun. I also made some friends through the club, which was a great experience. 

Visiting St Andrews College was also really enjoyable. This was my best experience throughout this program because I made many friends there. They were really funny and kind. To be honest, life at St Andrews College was much more fun than my school in Japan.  

When I moved to my second family, I was a bit nervous. But they made me feel at home and were a bright and cheerful family. My second host family had very energetic twin boys. At first, they looked so much alike that it was hard to tell them apart. They learn  Judo and swimming, and I had the chance to go to their training with them once. It was my first time doing udo, and I found it fun.  Swimming was also enjoyable, but I don’t recommend swimming during winter because the water was so cold. I thought I might have frozen! My second host family also took me around the city of Sydney. We rode the ferry to a beautiful scenic spot, which was so breathtaking that I was deeply moved. We also visited Sydney Zoo, where I saw many animals we don’t get to see in Japan. We also went to Parramatta, where I had the most delicious Chinese food I’ve ever eaten. It was truly amazing. 

Thanks to the wonderful opportunity and the great friends I met, I had an incredible experience in Australia. I am deeply grateful to my parents, host families, teachers, and everyone involved in making this possible. Throughout this experience, I improved my skills, changed my way of thinking, and gained insight into how I should approach my future. I am determined not to waste the eight-week homestay program and to work hard toward my dream.

Best regards, 

Ms Mariko Suzuki

Leader of Learning - Languages