Hello, world! On Sunday, September 7th, we held a Host Family Get-Together Potluck Party in Okinawa to celebrate another successful Summer Season coming to an end.
Strengthening our bonds as a community
August was a busy month, with more than 20 programs in total, and we are immensely grateful for the many host families who opened their homes and hearts whenever their schedules allowed! As an expression of our gratitude, our Host Team planned the Potluck Party: an event where Hosts, HelloWorld staff, and their families and friends could strengthen our bonds as a community over good food and stories.
Sharing is caring!
The event took place on Sunday evening at one of our most common venues for Welcome and Farewell Ceremonies in Okinawa City. It was attended by over 50 participants, including members of 15 host families and their friends! Many families brought homemade food from their country, which made the atmosphere even more friendly and diverse, just like our HelloWorld community!
We enjoyed getting to know each other more, sharing stories from hosting experiences, and exchanging ideas on activities and delicious recipes to do with guests. In the words of an attendee: “Food is great, we meet new host families, and share our stories and laughter.” This led to an amazing 100% satisfaction rate from attendees!
A new sense of community
This event is just one example of how our Machinaka Cultural Exchange Program can bring a new sense of community to Host Families, not only by bringing them closer to Japanese society, but also by sharing experiences with other Hosts and HelloWorld staff. And what’s more: you can always invite friends to join our welcoming community too! You are never alone as a Host with HelloWorld!
Food was great, met new host families! We shared our stories and laughter. We talk a lot about families’ experiences with hosting, tips, and new recipes for cooking
It is a good thing to get the host families together. We can share experiences and stories about the hosting.
Even though I already knew of HelloWorld from ads and considered joining, meeting a host family and the team in person was a fantastic chance to get a feel for the vibe. That’s what sealed the deal for me— I’ve decided to
join!
Finally, we would like to thank all of the participants in this edition of the Host Family Get-Together Potluck Party for being such essential members of our program and community! And for those reading this column who are thinking of becoming a Host Family: we hope to see you at the next party!
