This article describes the experience of Mr Tanaka, who did a homestay in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, from 27 April to 2 May 2024!
Profile of Mr Tanaka
Participants: Couple
Residence: Kyoto
Occupation: PM, management in IT
Participation period: 27 April – 2 May
Accommodation: Kobe, Hyogo
Homestay introduction website:https://familyinn.jp/en/hosts/fijifufu/
Why did you use FAMILYINN?
I currently live at home with my parents and have been working for five years.
As I was experiencing changes in my surroundings, such as friends getting married, career progression and job changes, I realised that my situation was not changing and I was questioning my life, my work and the way I spend my time.
I wanted to review my situation objectively and that’s when I found FAMILYINN. I thought I could meet people I wouldn’t normally meet, experience a different way of life and gain a new perspective.
At first, it started with curiosity, “Sounds interesting!” I was going to go alone, but as it was GW, I invited my boyfriend to try something interesting instead of travelling. He also said he wanted to live in the countryside, so I thought we could get to know each other’s values.
Did you have any concerns before joining FAMILYINN?
I looked at the testimonials and saw that there were not many couples or friends using the programme, so I was worried about whether it would be safe for me to participate.
Also, before meeting the hosts, I was worried that we would have something to talk about or that they would not be friendly towards us.
After the interviews, I could get a feel for the host’s personality and the atmosphere of the house by talking face to face, which made me feel more at ease.
What was your impression of the town where you are staying and your host?
Host: The husband was sick, so I talked a lot with his wife Kazumi and daughter.
My impression of her from the first interview remained the same: she was cheerful and sociable. They belong to many different communities and introduced me to many people and connected me with them.
I had a lot to talk about during my short stay, as they told me about such and such people.
If I just went about my daily life, I wouldn’t meet many new people during a week, but I met a lot during my stay.
My hosts were very helpful in bringing out my values, my way of thinking, and about myself.
Surroundings: there was a lot of nature and it was a different space from my normal life.
On the other hand, the house is close to the city centre, about 10-15 minutes by bus from Sannomiya Station, and there are supermarkets around, so I had the impression that I could stay for a month or a year, while experiencing life and working at the same time.
In fact, there were days when I needed to go to work during my stay at the house, but it was no problem!
Living: I got the impression that they cherish their food, with many homemade items such as homemade soy sauce and homemade herbal tea.
I got the impression that they lived carefully, not only with food but also with DIY, using what was available on the spot and incorporating it into their own lives.
It was different from the consuming lifestyle that I thought was the norm, where people use, throw away and buy. I felt the difference between them and me.
What is your daily schedule?
7:00 Wake up
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Outing (to the farm for farm work / to the square for DIY, etc.)
Lunch (eating out)
Afternoon: work done in the morning Evening: go home
18:00: Cook dinner together
21:00: Bath
22:00~23:00: Go to bed
Experiences and episodes in the homestay
All experiences are colourful, but I was impressed when I met a person who was trying to run a business in Africa at the end of the homestay.
The person was planning to open a Japanese restaurant in Africa and was pursuing only what he wanted to do, and for better or worse, I felt that he was living straight ahead without thinking about the future. Unlike my way of life, that person has a strong will that will not be defeated no matter what people around her say, and I thought she was tough.
We also exchanged installations, so I would like to see more of her activities in the future.Many of the other people I met were running their own private businesses. It was refreshing to see them realising what they
Many of the other people I met were running their own private businesses. It was refreshing to see them realising what they
Did you have any new insights or discoveries?
As a result of being exposed to so many different values, I realised that my current lifestyle is ultimately the right one for me.
I would like some stability, and I would like to work in a company to solidify my base and then broaden my horizons in the fields I like.
In addition, in talking to Kazumi, the other host, I realised that I lack deep communication with people. To be honest, I felt that I had many thin relationships even in my work, so I felt again that if I were to spend time with various people, everything would be more interesting if I started by getting to know and take an interest in the other person.
It was a great opportunity because I felt that the more I grew up, the more I was afraid of stepping into other people’s lives, and I was worried that asking in-depth questions would make people feel uncomfortable, or that I would hurt them if I touched on sensitive topics.
Who would you recommend it to?
I think it’s a place for everyone. I think it’s good to come into contact with various values when you are a working person and a bit lost, like me, or to simply attend casually for fun! This place is easy to get to, so I would recommend it as a good first step for a casual experience of country life!
If you get hooked here, I think it’s possible to stay for a longer period of time in a far away place!
My impressions and message
My impressions and message
I am very happy that my usual GW holiday was so fulfilling. I would like to use Familin in the future if I have more time to try a different living experience. I think that offering and experiencing a different way of living should be more widespread. I felt that if the culture of sharing
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