Hello,
I am asking for your help. I don’t often appeal to my network of friends, clients
and family for help but this time I am asking because I really need it! This is urgent!
I have a foreign exchange student from Japan, that for various reasons, needs to be moved from
his current host family to a new host family. The student’s name is Hirotsugu Yamamoto.
He goes by “Hiro”. He will be 16 years old next week and is in the 10th grade currently attending Dana Hills
High School in Dana Point.
Do you know ANY great families in the Laguna Niguel or Dana Point area that may be open
to hosting an exchange student? He will be here going to high school until June. He can share a room.
It would be great if the family lives in the Dana Hills High area so I don’t also have to change his school
but I am open to changing his school if you know of a great family.
A bit about Hiro:
Hiro is a very outgoing and talkative young man. His English skills are good and he is
anxious to dive into American life. He is particularly excited about learning Hip Hop and/or surfing
while he is here. He loves basketball but has no way to play it in Japan. He will be here until the school year ends in June. He loves to draw and he wants to someday be a film director. He likes school but I would say he is more artistic and less “bookish”. He has an older sister back home and lives with both his parents in Japan. He was currently going to an
all-boys private school in Japan. He is really looking forward to American football games and experiencing
what it means to live an American life. He wants to learn how to lift weights and he does have a healthy appetite
as most 16 year old boys do!
What it means to host:
Host families are volunteers, they are not paid to host as per the rules issued by the State Department.
There is a small tax incentive of $50 per month. The student lives with the volunteer host family as a family member and is responible for all expenses outside of basic food. The student helps with family chores and needs loving care and guidance from their host family as to how to best fit into their family. The students have their own health insurance. Most students are here for a full academic year like Hiro who is here until June. The student can share a room. They just need a bed, a little storage space, and a desk for their use for school work. I would be happy to explain the program in detail to any family that is interested in learning more.
I am asking you to please think of anyone you know that this might be a fit for. This is not for everyone.
It takes a very giving family and a parent(s) willing to guide this young man, and quite frankly, be open to the
ups and downs of living with a teenager. I would be happy to explain in more detail about the program and send Hiro’s full application to anyone interested in knowing more. This can be such a rewarding experience for everyone in the family.
Please forward this to your friends, your co-workers, any people you know.
They just may know someone who would love to do this.
For Hiro’s sake, a heartfelt thank you,
Buffie
Buffie Channel
Quest Relocation Group / Cultural Homestay International
Cell: (714) 317-3035
buffie2@earthlink.net
