Our 16th annual Canada Homestay Program ran from July 25th to August 7th.
The program provides the opportunity for students to develop their English communicative ability by staying with a host family in Barrie, Ontario (roughly an hour from Toronto) and experiencing firsthand the diversity of culture and religion of Canadian life.
【Haneda to Toronto】
Everybody arrived long before the meeting time! This was the first trip abroad for some students, so there were a few nervous faces, but it was a good start!
【Toronto to Barrie】
About half the students slept well on the plane, and about half didn’t sleep at all, but we all arrived in Canada in good spirits! We took a bus from Toronto to the meeting point in Barrie for the welcome ceremony. The students met their host families for the first time. Many of the families have been hosting our students for many years, so it was a very warm and welcoming atmosphere.
【Day 1】
In
the morning, we visited a local nursery school summer program. The local kids
sang a cute welcome song, and our students also performed a song in English for
the kids! After that, we all divided into smaller groups, and our students
taught the kids Japanese-style games. After lunch, we said goodbye and headed
to the city of Barrie. It rained heavily, but we were impressed with the lake
and enjoyed a private tour of the city hall.
【Day 2】
The
students spent the weekend with their host families.
We
met at the meeting spot and rode the coach to Niagara Falls. All students had
studied about Niagara Falls in the textbooks used in first year English
classes, so when asked about what they were most looking forward to seeing in
Canada, the most popular answer was “I want to see Niagara Falls for myself
with my own eyes.” In reality, the power and majesty of the falls was even more
overwhelming than we’d all imagined. The students got drenched while taking
photos in their red ponchos!
【Day 3】
We
got back on the yellow school bus with the Canadian buddies and headed for a
day of nature and history. In the morning, we explored forests with a guide,
and the students rode a canoe through the protected wetlands. We encountered
frogs, turtles, various birds, and insects! In the afternoon, we visited St.
Marie among the Hurons, a reproduction of one of the earliest European
settlements in Ontario. We enjoyed a hands-on experience and learned how early
immigrants to Canada and native-Canadians lived.
