📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Mimasaka International Exchange Association (MIEA) is a volunteer organization founded in 1998 by Mimasaka citizens who were eager to be a liaison between the Mimasaka area and outside of Japan.It started off with a small group who practiced English conversation with a few native speakers. Then, they started looking for an opportunity to do a bigger international exchange. Since then, with the slogan of Open your eyes to the world, MIEA has been encouraging the locals to be prouder and more confident of their hometown by introducing their cultural values and traditions to international members. And by learning other cultures, local children will have more positive images about going abroad and making friends in other countries. CIEE Japan has been recruiting international volunteers for MIEA for more than 20 years. Staying with a local family, combined with versatile day event programs, has always been one of the most popular summer camps.http://www.city.mimasaka.lg.jp/kanko/
💼 What the programme involves
Volunteers join cultural exchange activities and interact with local adults and students. - Give a presentation on your home country, language and your life there - Prepare a native dish (or dishes) representing your home country- Teach English to beginners- Experience traditional Japanese culture such as kabuki, ikebana, etc.- Environmental work
🏠 Accommodation on site
Each volunteer will stay separately in a local host familys house and can experience ordinary Japanese family life. The host families want to share their culture and life with volunteers. The host families are volunteers as well and they are paid nothing. Facilities: Bedding is provided. There is a toilet, bathroom with bathtub, kitchen and laundry machine. Breakfast and dinner will be provided. Volunteers will prepare their lunches by themselves. Host families will not prepare any special meals due to allergy or religious restrictions. This also applies to vegetarians.
📍 About the location
Mimasaka is a rural area located in Okayama Prefecture in the western part of the mainland of Japan. With a population of around 27,000,it is known for its beautiful fields and natural landscape. It is also rich in history and culture. The 1,200-year-old Yunogo Hot Springs attracts throngs of visitors each year. One of the most notable sightseeing spot is the birthplace of Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645), the strongest swordsman in Japan and the author of the world renowned The Book of Five Rings.euroIt is an hour 30 minutes train ride to the World Heritage Himeji Castle.Furthermore, Mimasaka is conveniently linked to other Kansai area cities. The Chugoku Highway buses directly connect Mimasaka to and from Kyoto and Osaka. They run frequently every day. They are convenient, punctual, comfortable and not so expensive (One way to Kyoto 3,000 yen, to Osaka 2,640 yen). The journey to either city takes approx. 2 hours 30 minutes. You can enjoy going there before or after the camp.Regarding the schedule on holidays, please ask your host family if they have any plan made for the day before you make your own. Keep in mind that you are strongly expected to spend time with your host family.
ℹ️ Additional information
-Volunteers are treated as a family member, NOT a guest. You may need to do your laundry by yourself, help do dishes, clean rooms.euroFollow house rules and instructions by your host family.- Dont go out after dark without permission of your host family. Going out for drinks at night is not allowed.- Prepare a presentation file (Microsoft PowerPoint) to introduce your home country and e-mail it to MIEA by July 19th at the latest.- Be prepared for cooking a dish (dishes) representing your home country. - Volunteers are expected to cook for 10 people. Bring any seasonings you cant get in Japan.- Bring cotton gloves, long sleeve shirts and long pants to cover your hands, arms and legs, a hat or a cap, sports shs, a water bottle, sunscreen, bath towels, facial towels, mosquito spray and any necessary personal medicines you need.