Fortunately when I was in Japan (and flunking all my tests) the arranged for the host families top meet up with us (at one of their time-honoured horribly awkward meet and greet type parties). I finally agreed to stay with a host family as I was promised if it was awkward I could go back to the dorms.

So the one month of staying with my host family (which began in August) ended up lasting through till December…. I had the best host family of all the ones (not by my choice – they chose me) A lot of the other girls got host families that were purely interested in practising their English. Mine gave me the choice and included me on their bi-annual weekend stay at Mt Fuji. My host dad had always wanted to climb Fuji san to the point he’d bought the hiking shoes, the hiking bag, the headlamps, you name it. It broke my heart when I told him my intentions of climbing Fuji and he asked me to use his stuff so if he never made it to the peak at least his stuff had (fortunately he decided to climb it a month after I had). Honestly I could continue on – but the main thing staying with my host family did… After 4 months of scraping by or flunking my Japanese tests, I started aceing them and to this day my Japanese ability remains strong even with lack of use.

If you ever get the opportunity, DO IT!