Homestay

Since the fall of 1990, Spokane-area families have opened their homes to 6,935 MFWI students. For many students, Homestay Weekend serves as the high point of their stay in the United States. Host families give the students an opportunity to experience American family life firsthand and to establish lasting relationships. Students, meanwhile, eagerly share Japanese culture with their host families.

The Homestay Program is so successful that many families have hosted repeatedly, some as many as 27 times. There are still families who have been active since that very first session. Host families serve as vital links between American and Japanese culture. They are informal cultural ambassadors. Thanks to their commitment and generosity, MFWI students and the Spokane community have been immeasurably enriched.