How to make an impressive host letter

On April 20, I got my acceptance letter for my study aboard scholarship.! I am going somewhere in Japan and as of right now, I am not sure as to where I am placed and who's my host family. In order to celebrate my acceptance, I decided to post a guide on how to write a host letter.

                                                 ★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★・・・・・・★
   Personally, I feel as though not many talk out or clarify about writing host letter when it comes to the study aboard process. Host letter is quite important. It's an honest introduction made by yourself (duh!) to your future host family. The letter is supposed to be intimate yet, public. Yeah, I know it's a bit strange but, it will make more sense once I explain. Recommended length is perhaps 4-5 paragraphs (including introductory and conclusion paragraph). Make sure, your letter isn't too long or short. Too short would it seem like you aren't too interesting and sluggish. Too long could bore your possible host family. Your outline should be in this order: introductory, SAYL*, SAYL, SAYL, and conclusion  Similar to the name, go ahead and introduce yo' self! In this paragraph, it is wise to avoid going into details about your interests and relationships. It is way better to give each big aspect of your life, it's own paragraph. For example, this is okay, "I live with my two parents and have two siblings." but, this isn't, "I live with my two parents, Raymond and Elizabeth. My dad is an inventor and we constantly go the movies together and...". Put all of those juicy details into one of the body paragraphs. For the body paragraphs, focus on a big part of your life. It is recommended to go into your interests (like your favorites), your relationships (this can include both family and friends) and school life. However when talking about these things be aware to not put in personal information. Most of the times, study aboard companies put these on a forum or send them host family that can fit your criteria. So, it isn't a good idea give out names, phone numbers, etc. You could tell them those things yourself if you want to when you meet your host family. In the end, conclude your letter. Tell why you think it is important for you to study aboard and the beneficial parts and effects of foreign exchange. This can be a bit tricky but, view this part as if your travel agent or a charismatic salesman trying to ease into booking a trip. If you are still blank, search up pros of foreign exchange or maybe ask people around on their feelings about. That could give some inspiration. Your concluding sentence should be something like this, "Thank you for reading my letter and please consider hosting me. From, Jane.".  Here are a few tips that I can offer:

1. Don't put anything in the letter that could prevent you from getting the host family and application. I don't know how hard that could be for some people but, try not to. It is not the brightest idea to talk your frequent recreational drug usage or, you how much stuff you lift from your local Dollar Tree. Study aboard companies doesn't want you or your host family sitting a jail cell in a different country.
2. Be aware of the country you writing these letters to. If you know that you writing a host letter to a country is pretty conservative on certain acts, please try to avoid to talk about that. Of course, there are progressive folks in countries like those. It is safe not to mention them. Additionally, if you do not know if a country is alright with certain things, avoid adding it in.
3. Include some of the stuff from the country into one of the paragraphs. I am not saying to go full butt kissing but, draw some connections from the popular cultures and norms into your life. Simply saying that your interest is learning that country's language in your free time or you love a show that is currently being there is a nice way to connect with your host family. That being said, don't lie! Don't talk about how you read all of that country's iconic literature even though, you don't know one of the names of any authors there.
4. Steer away from taboo subjects. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DO NOT TALK ABOUT POLITICS AND RELIGION!!!  Please don't go on about how you love a leader that everybody and their mam know that treated the country you want like crap or, traumatizing event that impacted and sacred that nation. It is okay to talk about how you go to church and youth group and stuff like that. It is not okay to talk about your religion is the best in the world and other religions can go suck eggs. Just be kind and safe.

 I think that about does for right now! After this post, I could possibly write a pretty good sample host letter. I just hope that this can help someone out there. I could try to talk about more study aboard prep like funding, pack list, and all that good stuff. When I do go, I will take pictures and post a bunch.

Public school funds and things on my mind

   I don't know about schools in other countries. But, the spending in public school in the great almighty United States is absolute crap. A lot of the spending goes towards atheltics and anything besides the arts. At my school, my IB art program only has a few types of art mediums: matte acriylic, tempura paint (the type little kids paint with), colored pencils, and oil pastels. We don't even have canvas. Band is another program that is really underfunded. I mainly brought this because of what I've heard.
So, I have been placed at a table where I am surrounded by girls either in ASB or just locals (sometimes both). Only one of them really talks to me (let's call her H) and actually knows my names, the other two don't care and forget about my presence(aka J and F). Anyways, the local three were talking about the following:

1. Rise in breakups 
2. One of the girl's jerk of a recently ex-boyfriend
3. Some girl they condemned just because she embraces her sexuality
4. Girls that are stuck up
5. ASB

Because they think I am some lousy rock on the chair across them, I was able to listen on while looking bored. I overheard something that ended kinda pissing me off. J bought up the yearly ASB retreat,which I found out on that day - Thursday, and H continues on that conversation. Then, J added that fact that the head of ASB was thinking of  flying out the entire ASB! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH AIR FARE COST FOR AROUND 15 KIDS AND ONE FREAKING ADULT?! Absolutely ridulous. Just for a reminder, I am at a public school. Where's the money coming from? What's need for it? All of they do are decorate and pick themes for school events. Nothing real important there. Additionally, they're like Julius when it comes to club money. In freshman year, when I was in the Feminist club, we planned to give snack bags, basically a decorated brown paper bag with garnola bars, PB&J sandwiches and water aka simple. We had to give one hundred snack bags, so we decided to use our sorta useless club money the food. After going back and forth with ASB and the president (who was my friend, so were most of the club counsil), we can't use the club money that was saved from the food fairs we did. Not joking, ASB only allowed us to use the money only for the two most important and serious situations: pizza parties and T-shirts. In order words, donation for a shelther = a waste of money and time but, pizza parties= make it rain like a nigerian wedding.

                                     ASB:"That's almost $2 worth of club to a women shelther"

This rant felt longer than I thought. I wanted to talk about something else but, I ramble on any longer it make people fall asleep.

Virtual*✭˚･ﾟ✧*Hime

*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ*✭˚･ﾟ✧*･ﾟ* (It was kinda hard trying to post this playlist :P)

Things on my mind #3: Anime boys and/with flower crowns

I adore anime boys more than the ones in real life. It's kinda weird because when I'm daydreaming, reality sucka punches me in the face and yells how they're not real. Then, logical thinking kicks me in the gut and says if they would like me in real life. That would be a no, unless their name is Alois Trancy or a pedophile. Here are my favorites (listed by animes)-

1.Death note (not all dead,but dead)

2. Hetalia 

3.black butler

4. DRAMAtical Murder

4. Free! Swimming Anime

5.Attack on Titan

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I also LOVE flower crowns. They're so retro and cute. They remind me of flower fairies and when I lived in Portland.

I also love anime boys with flower crowns ,too.

This post is a flashback from middle school. I was super obsessed like this then. So, enjoy I guess /:

Things on my mind #4: People from HS

Until yesterday, a super late revelations hit me while I was thrift shopping: I have to stop quickly assuming about things. Real original, right? However, that's a huge problem that I fail to really fix. I would assume the best of people or events then, it would be worst than I thought. When I was in sophomore year, I always thought it was so cool that my friend could instantly get with her artsy group of friends, hop on the metro and hang out at MOCA. I thought it was also puzzling on how she could get away with all things she did, like causally smoke and go to late night shows with hypnotic vocals and crowds that moved like crashing waves. All that time, I would think that her mom was some carefree hippie that also did that. My viewpoint changed for the worst late last year. I wonder if someone thought for the worst of the better. If so, I'd be interested yet, scared.
Additionally, I had this revelations since a week ago. People depend on me way too much and they're okay with it. It is sad and disappointing. It is weird that adults are absolutely okay with people depending on others when there's actually work to be done and they have to do it. But when ONE person looks at their phone, it is the most disrespectful thing on earth and it is the end of the world. Makes no sense at all to me. I already feel the depressing side effect of it: disappearing edges, deteriorating skin, and ultra-sensitivity to noise. This is one of the constant reminders that I will probably won't miss most of the people from high school.

Movie review from my channel awesome blog (I now pronounce you chuck and larry)

Adam Sandler
A man who can be capable of comedy yet isn't. When you think of him, what comes up?
Gross out humor? Product placements? SNL?

Yes, indeed, he is associated with all of this things. But, would you imagine him and Kevin James (ugh) both tackling the harsh realities of homophobia. No one does. They aren't even fit for that anyways.

Too bad, they believe so. Which gave us the atrocity of " I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry." This movie is about two "respectable" firefighters posing as a gay couple for insurance stuff. As expected, this is an offensive mess (including fat jokes, homophobic slurs, and Rob playing as a Japanese-Canadian pastor *gag*). Weirdly, you can tell that they're trying to teach a lesson about prejudice. The way they do it is quite right. The way it's teaching it's anti-prejudice lesson is just the movie "Radio", having a majority (in this case, a straight guy) saving a minority (LGBT+). Along with that, when a lesson is taught it's automatically ruined by an offensive joke or stereotype. For example, when a tough/scary firefighter came out to Larry, it could've been an emotional moment, but it was ruined by the gay firefighter displaying a gay stereotype. The movie is trying to teach the Happy Madison audience about the stuff LGBT+ people face. It is the same as sailor-mouthed parents constantly tell their child to stop cursing ( BTW, if you don't get my metaphor, it teaches a life lesson yet, contradicts itself with including offensive jokes about that lesson).

Rating: 0-1 stars (it's in between)

Japanese Resources

This originally was supposed to be posted on my group on Minato-fg. Which is right here. But, this will do 😗.

Hey guys! Here are the websites that I recommend and I actually use.

----Grammar
1.  Genki: I honestly love this textbook. This is perfect for self-study and other schools this too.
           Genki 1
           Genki 1 Workbook
            Genki 1 audio
            Genki 2
            Genki 2 Workbook

2.   Remembering the Kana (Hiragana and Katakana)

3. Japanese from Zero: Just like Genki but, broken down way more. Great for Beginners and those who are at the level between Beginner and Intermediate

4. Erin's Challenge: More of a website that you can use to go over grammar and vocabulary with. Wouldn't recommend using this as a textbook

5. FluentU: Should be paired with another learning source, like Genki or Japanese from Zero

----Vocabulary
1. Memrise: the cheap and more portable version of Anki

2. Anki: regular flashcards (tbh I don't use this one but I've heard great things)

3. WaniKani: Focuses on radicals, kanji, and vocabulary (I use memrise to practice the stuff from wanikani)

----Listening
1. Pimsleur Japanese: Super expensive, I suggest going to the library getting the rest of these

2. My Listening Playlist (contains tons of commercials)

3. Japanese Dramas: you can watch them on Crunchyroll, Viki, etc. Here's a really good article on it.

-----Reading
1. Japanese in Anime and Manga: I like how easy the grammar and vocabulary is in these. The cultural notes are an added bonus.

2. Books made for kids: you can find these in the library and online.

----Resourceful websites
1. Tofugu: absolutely resourceful, Contains tips and reviews on other Japanese language learning products

2. FluentU: Sort of like Tofugu, except strictly Japanese language learning


This will also be posted on my back up blog, just in case lol.