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 You can choose to stay with a Japanese family, in which case breakfast and dinners are provided. Insight into the typical Japanese family is a benefit of this option, as well as the ability to practice your Japanese skills. Or you can stay in a dormitory. Here you will be responsible for your own meals. There are many places to eat in the immediate vicinity of KCP, and many of the dorms have a cafeteria. The dorm option is ideal for older students who desire greater freedom and independence.
Arrangements can be made ahead of time to place 2 people in the same dormitory; however, only under very rare situations can 2 students live with the same host family. Host families usually only house one student at a time. A local transportation pass between your lodging and school is included in the program cost when class is in session for both dorm and homestay students. The average commute in the greater Tokyo area is 1 1/2 hours. While we try to place students in dorms or homestays that are as close as possible, be prepared for the possibility of a long commute—a good chance to catch up on your reading and people-watching!
At this time, KCP can offer homestay as a possibility only during the first term of your study. If you have selected homestay and will continue for a further term, you will most likely be placed in a dormitory during the remainder of your time at KCP.
Selecting an option which is best for you can be difficult. The table below summarizes the common advantages and disadvantages of each option.
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Option->
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Homestay
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Dormitory
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Advantages
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Daily opportunity to practice language
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Opportunity to meet other young people
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Experience family traditions
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Private rooms
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Eat meals in family setting
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More freedom
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Secure option for younger students
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More control over meals
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Disadvantages
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Less free time in schedule
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Less exposure to Japanese family life
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Possible curfew
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May need to help out around the house
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35
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