A High School Student from Singapore!

This time, a high school boy from Singapore studying in Japan came to visit!
Compared to other guests, receiving a guest for one week is relatively long for us. Until he arrived, we were imagining various scenarios, wondering, "What kind of teenager will he be? What does he like to do?

I was first surprised by how tall he was when I went to pick him up at the station. He also arrived wearing a stylish black coat, which surprised me even more. However, once we started talking, he was just as honest and talkative as he had been during the online interview—a really nice boy.

He traveled a long way alone by train. His parents were watching over him from Singapore, and they all communicated with me upon his arrival. It's a very convenient age we live in, isn't it?

On the way from the station to our house, the first thing that amazed him was how "close the mountains are." He mentioned that there are mountains at the area his school is located, but they probably seem far away. Since Sasayama is a basin surrounded by mountains, there aren't any tall peaks, but they must have seemed big to him. He was also impressed by the cherry blossoms, which were in full bloom.

Once we arrived home, I showed him to his room and shared basic information (such as the locations of the bath, toilet, and how to use the kitchen). After introducing ourselves, we went to bed early. He must have left the dorm very early in the morning. 

On the second day, we collected chicken eggs and he cooked an egg by himself. He seemed to have never cooked before, so I taught him how to use the frying pan and how to crack the egg, and he made his first sunny-side-up egg. (From then on, it became a daily routine for him to fry his own eggs during his stay 😆.) In the dorm, professionals cook for him, and at home, his mother does, so he hasn't had to cook for himself. So it's a new challenge for him to cook something for himself.

After that, we had various experiences at the Tamba Cotton Lab "Ito" in Fukusumi. We separated the seeds from the cotton flower, spun thread, and even tried a little weaving. Later, we also had the experience of creating a frame by attaching scraps of Tamba cotton and making a picture to go inside. He ended up with a unique frame and a picture of a fish inside. When asked which experience he liked the most, he said he found spinning thread to be the most interesting. He was quite good at it too!

As we gradually got to know each other, I discovered that he was really into origami. I had purchased an origami book with English instructions, thinking that there might be guests interested in it during the homestay. He turned out to have quite advanced skills, neatly creasing the paper and creating various things while following the book. He seemed to be very quick-witted. He understood the instructions much better than I did and was able to craft things beautifully and efficiently. We even prepared large sheets of paper and he ended up making a usable wallet with it!

He had many experiences, such as letting the pet budgerigar fly in the room, learning a bit about welding from John, and using the washing machine to do laundry by himself. 

He seems to really enjoy creative activities. He showed interest in pottery as well, so we went to the pottery village for a pottery experience. After thinking it over, he chose to do painting instead of shaping. As I watched, I noticed that he really likes fish; following the fish frame at the Tamba Cotton Lab, he painted many fish for this project too. we arranged to have the finished pieces sent to the dorm, so it's a shame I won't be able to see the completed work, but his creativity and unique sense truly shone through!

When we heard he liked fish, we asked if he was interested in fishing, and he said he would definitely like to try it. So we decided to go sea fishing in the Japan Sea. However, on the day of our trip, strong winds and high waves made it impossible to go to the usual spot we visit with our acquaintances. Instead, we headed to Kinosaki Marine Park. 🐟🐬

We observed various fish and sea creatures in the tanks, as well as dolphin and sea lion shows. John and I also really enjoyed our visit to the aquarium after such a long time. As for fishing, there was actually a spot on the premises where you could catch horse mackerel, and they would immediately make tempura with the fish you caught. It was a bit like goldfish scooping, where the line with the hook was designed to break easily, so if it broke, that would be the end of your fishing. John caught only one fish, but our guest managed to catch 12 on his 2 attempts, making a total of 13 horse mackerel tempura for the three of us to share. The fresh horse mackerel tempura was delicious!

Before we knew it, a week had passed, and he was on his way home. This time, it was a train journey to Kansai Airport, followed by a flight from Kansai to Singapore. He was really looking forward to reuniting with his parents. After all, he is just 15 years old; he must have missed them! It seemed like he had a great time, and we enjoyed ourselves very much too. Come visit us again!

Later, we received a thank-you message from his father, along with a review from him.
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[Message from Father]
Hi Yoko-san,
My son has returned safely to Singapore. He shared how much he enjoyed his time with you and John, and how much he learned during the homestay. We truly appreciate your warm hospitality and the care you gave him throughout his stay.
Thank you very much for providing such a meaningful and enriching experience for him.

[Review from Son]
The overall experience was very fun! Switching from city life to life in the country side was very relaxing. Despite the short time, I learnt lots of new interesting things! If given the opportunity I would definitely come again!