I’m feeling rather down now, because of the homestay program. It just ended yesterday. I’m really bothered that I didn’t play the role of a host that well.
Yesterday, when I sent my student back to the school’s hostel apartments, the rest of the other students and their hosts arrived back at the apartment around the same time too. The students started conversing, and that was when I started to feel bad. I wouldn’t have felt so bad if I didn’t understand Japanese…
There were plans for a picnic at Sentosa the day before, but it appeared that only a few pairs were going, so I decided to skip it and take my student to Chinatown, Arab Street and the area around town instead. It turned out that 12 out of the 14 Japanese students went for the picnic and had a ball of a time in Sentosa. Also, it turned out that the other attractions in Sentosa were open when I thought that everything except for the beaches and hotels were closed for construction.
My student’s expression swung 180 degrees when he heard of their enjoyable day at the Sentosa that he missed.
The next thing was the financial part. I went out with many of the others as a group on the first day, and the other hosts seemed to pay for only certain things. Not all the students’ expenses were covered. And so, I did the same for the next few days. I paid for stuff like entrance tickets, and drinks and stuff, but my student still forked out some money for certain stuff, like when he purchased a wallet. Apparently, everyone decided to foot the entire amount for their students over the next 2 days, while I was the inferior fool who only paid around 60%.
In the room, the students were showing each other what they bought, and the other hosts were telling me what they bought for their students. I realised that apart from the foodstuffs that I gave him, I have not given him any gift. I have to admit that I am a rather dense guy who doesn’t really have the habit of giving gifts. Personally, if I were to go for a homestay in Japan again, I would not want my host to shower me with any gifts. Just his/her companionship would beat any gift. And I wouldn’t give a damn if any of my friends received a ton of gifts. However, in this case, I was the host, not the exchange student.
The only thing that I can proudly say I have done for him was to introduce him to a new friend everyday. It isn’t something that every homestay student gets to experience. Also, I conversed quite a bit with him. However, that isn’t much of a big deal compared to what the other hosts have done.
What made me feel the worst was that my student actually offered to do me a favour by helping me send a keitai mail when he gets back to Japan. We have even drafted the email already.
I still remembered what went through my mind when I was in Chiba for the exchange program last year. I was determined to be a good host if I were to ever be involved in a homestay program. Yet this time, I was unable to be the host I had in mind.
Now, I hope that it doesn’t rain this Saturday so that he can go to the Night Safari, and that he doesn’t think badly of me >_<
Well, I guess you live and learn. With this, I am more determined to be a better homestay host if there is a chance in the near future.
Everyone makes mistakes and no one expected something like that to happen. Hopefully the exchange student is able to understand that.
I hope so too.
On the bright side, you did bring him out to a place where I assume, the other exchange students didn’t get to go? So in a way, he’s even more special than them - I’m hoping that he’s mature enough to realize that. XD
It’s a natural reaction to feel left out or a little disappointed when you hear that all your other friends went to XX place together and had XXX amounts of fun. I mean, wouldn’t you feel the same way too?
Frankly speaking, the areas where you brought him are a whole lot more Singaporean than Sentosa. O:
The other students went to all the places we went, PLUS some more places. We spent most of the time walking around in shopping malls or areas such as Chinatown, chatting and stuff.
I was once a homestay student before, so I know what it feels like when you hear that your other friends did much more stuff than you did.
cheer up bro. treat this as an experience. we all can benefit from an bad experience. that’s how one improves oneself. ^^;
regarding giving gifts, how about giving your guest something as a souvenir to remember singapore and maybe yourself. need not be expensive stuff, a card will be nice. will u be seeing him again? this saturday at the Night Safari or during the send-off?
I’ll be seeing him for the last time on Friday. Hmm, your suggestion’s a good idea ^^ Thanks!
Its your sincerity that counts!! ^_^
I met up with my student today, and he doesn’t seem upset anymore! Yay!