We will introduce the report from Anya-san who went to Japan through YFU program in 2017.
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JBSD Post Program Report

The realization of actually going to Japan did not hit me until I was on the last plane to my final destination. I expected to enjoy my time but was unsure of how much I would. When my small group was greeting our host families, I saw my host parents and received a hug from my host mother. I was surprised and knew at that point I was going to be a part of the family. I met my sister later in the day and helped make dinner which ended up being one of my favorite meals. One of the most memorable moments I experienced was with my extended family including aunts, uncles, and cousins. We were having a barbeque at my aunt’s house and I couldn’t stop smiling the entire night. We did not use our phones and entertained ourselves with plenty of tricks and challenges created by my dad. It fascinated me how quickly I could bond with the extended family, only having known them for a few hours. By the end of the night I could call them my own family. There were also plenty of other activities I loved doing with my family especially feeding the deer in the Shika Park. My host parents and I had a blast as the deer constantly tried to eat our clothing.
It took time to adjust to small routines such as constantly taking off my shoes at houses, dressing rooms, and some restaurants. I was a little worried that I would accidentally break one of their customs which would be perceived as offensive. I was conscientiously observing my environment and follow my family’s behavior.
I would like to thank JBSD for enabling me to participate in this amazing experience! Without YFU’s help, I would have never been able to become a part of a family half way across the world.