＜2010/08＞

■　Summer Amacho Homestay Program!

　This year as well, French students visited Amacho in the heart of the Oki Islands, Shimane Prefecture.

　Amacho kindly hosts us every year; we went this year, as well. While learning Japanese surrounded by plentiful nature, we sweated it out playing sports and games with the children at local schools (including kindergarten, elementary, junior high, and high schools), enjoyed barbecues with our host families, made pottery, carried portable shrines in a festival, pursued knowledge of spirit through zazen, and participated in various other activities that the program organized for us. The following is an interview with Margo-san, one of the participating French students.

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Q: First of all, starting with the first day, can you tell us the schedule?

A: Yes. On August 10th, we went from Tokyo to Sakaiminato. Actually, in Sakaiminato, there’s a road called “Mizuki Shigeru Road.” There are all these dolls and goods with ghosts drawn by manga artist Shigeru Mizuki on display. It was really fun.

Q: Ah, so of course, you like ghosts, right?

A: Yes, that’s right. But in the middle, there was also a Kitaro doll that was a little scary. And the principal had to use a wheelchair. That seemed a bit difficult.

Q: There is a wheelchair in the picture… though even before getting to Amacho, you were already having fun, huh? So, how about after Sakaiminato?

A: We took a boat and finally arrived in Amacho on the Oki Islands. Then, on the same day, we had fun at a barbecue with the host families. We ate and drank until late at night. The meat was delicious!

Q: I’ve heard that the Oki Island meat is really good. I’m so jealous! Hey, what about these different colored t-shirts?

A: Ah, those. We and the Shinjuku Japanese Language Institute teachers all wore them. It seemed like the school prepared them for us.

Q: I see. So, the next day you immediately started your homestays at the houses of local families?

A: No, for the first few days we stayed at a nature village and went to local kindergartens, elementary schools and junior high schools. We bonded with the students and made pottery. The homestay program came after that. I went to an elementary school with close to 100 students and played games and did quizzes with them, and I can’t forget how the boys made guns from disposable chopsticks and rubber bands and had a blast playing with them. They were really loud (wry smile). And one of my friends went to a high school and played volleyball.

Q: Listening to you, it seems like all you did was play, huh (wry smile)?

A: No, no! We didn’t just play! We also studied Japanese!

Q: Ah… of course you studied. You studied in the morning, isn’t that right? Because the schedule I looked at said you started from before 9am. I understand. Oh, Sandra-san was also there, right?

A: Yes, this time she was in charge of taking pictures. She’s participated in this program many times, hasn’t she?

Q: Yeah. At least three or four times, I think.

A: so that’s why she seemed like a staff member this time!

Q: Is that right? Of course she was carrying a camera, huh? Anyway, next I’d like to ask you about the homestay. What kind of house did you stay in?

A: Yes. We stayed at the nature village for a short while, and then each went to stay with a host family. My family was just a mom and dad. They have two kids, but they live in Yokohama and Tokyo. The house was surrounded by mountains, but within a two or three-minute walk, you could see the ocean, so it was a great place. Really in the midst of nature, that’s what it felt like. I ate abalone and turban shell for dinner, and fish and other seafood, which was all really delicious. I wanted to help with preparing food and cleaning up afterward, but Dad told me I didn’t have to, so I didn’t really do anything. I woke up at eight in the morning and the three of us ate breakfast, after which I participated in a tea ceremony and went a temple to sit cross-legged and do zazen for thirty minutes. My legs really hurt (laugh).

Q: Thirty minutes, that does seem painful. But it sounds like it was a fun day. The food also sounds wonderful.

A: Yeah, I really thought so. Although actually, in the middle of the program I didn’t feel well and had to get an IV at the hospital.

Q: Oh, that’s awful.

A: At first I tried to wait it out, but my health didn’t improve and they took me to the hospital. I felt better after the IV and resting for a while, and by the weekend I was mostly recovered, so I could participate in the local festival and even carry the portable shrine. But because we were all taller than the local elementary school students, we ended up doing all the carrying and my shoulders really hurt (laugh). But it was a good experience.

Q: So despite a few problems, it was a good homestay?

A: Yeah, it really was. After we left Amacho, we went to Matsue City in Shimane Prefecture and went to see Izumo Taisha (temple).

Q: Ah, how nice! I haven’t been there yet.

A: Izumo Taisha appears in a lot of Japanese legends, doesn’t it? Going there made me very interested in it.

Q: You certainly like Japanese gods and spirits. I can tell you had fun riding the Ittan-momen. (laugh).

A: Yes, pretty much (laugh).

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　Margo-san is currently a student in the Intermediate II course. Changing pace, she immediately resumed attending regular classes the day after returning from the homestay. A few days later, when she gave a speech in class (theme: my summer memory),she immediately spoke about the Amacho homestay. It’s great that this homestay has become a good memory!

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