Mangere meets Kanagawa

A completely different family with a completely different culture.

When we all introduced ourselves and got to know each other I was no longer nervous. It felt like my family back home; warm and welcoming.

We all had great yarns about our favorite things, our likes, dislikes. It felt like I was apart of their family, not just as some exchange student from New Zealand but as a family member. We experienced a lot of different events together like travelling to places even my host family have never been to. It was a first experience for all of us. My first time at Disney land was a blast, literally. I was able to experience various rides that I must say are not as thrilling as Rainbows End, but more meaningful. All the different rides brought back nostalgic childhood memories of my family and I all sitting in the lounge watching our favorite Disney movies. Throughout the trip they took me to as many rides and place as they could, always looking out for me and asking me if I was thirsty and what not. 

Coming from New Zealand to Japan, living in a different household with another family has been the complete opposite of what I imagined. They do and act similar to my own family in New Zealand, but at the same time it's refreshing to live their daily routines. 

I wouldn't call them that family that hosts my stay in Japan. I'd call them my own.