[2024-11] Jiyu(15)'s Parent

Looking at the news and recruitment posts for the previous homestay, I felt that such an experience would truly be a great source of strength in life. I had the desire to send my child, and fortunately, the circumstances aligned, allowing me to do so. I am grateful to have completed the 12-week program safely and returned.

Host mom Alana was very considerate in making sure Jiyu felt comfortable, and despite the completely different language, culture, and environment, I was amazed and thankful for how she understood and guided my child according to her personality.

My daughter was able to experience many special things that are hard to experience in Korea. For example, she got to prepare and cook venison with homestay family, and she also had the chance to visit the majestic and beautiful Rocky Mountains three times, which made me feel quite envious. Haha!

Since I don’t enjoy exercising much, Jiyu never had the chance to ski with family in Korea, but she learned how to ski while she was there.

When she skied for the second time, she went on the advanced course and ended up tumbling down, which left her with some minor injuries. But I’m really thankful that it wasn’t a major injury.

For host mom’s birthday, Jiyu could take a trip to Mexico, which was not originally planned. She saw pelicans, a lot of lizards, and even witnessed a lizard cut off its own tail and escape. The tail was still moving, and it was fascinating to watch! Haha. It was a great experience to be in warm Mexico after the cold of Canada, creating wonderful memories in such a contrasting setting.

She also formed great relationships with many people and received a lot of positive influence. During the 12 weeks, she became close with the host family, and they treated her like real family. I’m especially thankful to host mom Mrs. Butlin, who took care of Jiyu’s physical and spiritual well-being. Jiyu got along really well with the second daughter of the family, who was one year younger than Jiyu, as they had similar personalities and hobbies. She also got along great with the mother and daughter who lived downstairs. Audrey, who is 20 years old, was very interested in Korea, and they had fun making kimchi stew together and even cooked tteokbokki. They really enjoyed their time together.

At the church that Jiyu’s host family attends, there was a Korean pastor who helped and took care of her in many ways. I think it was a big support for her.

Making relationships with so many people in Canada and creating beautiful memories really seemed to be a great experience for Jiyu’s life. I truly feel that it was the best decision to participate in the program.

Oh, and before going to Canada, I have really concerned about Jiyu's lack of basic English skills. I felt I would be difficult to improve her English if I didn’t take this opportunity, so I sent her off despite the gaps in her skills. As expected, communication was a challenge at first, and she relied on a translation app to communicate. Over time, though, she was able to communicate without the translation app. Her listening skills improved significantly, and even after returning home, she was able to have smooth video calls and hold everyday conversations. I believe she has grown a lot academically through this experience. :)

I believe the greatest strength of the CHH Homestay program is that they carefully select host families that are sincere Christian families. This is the reason I could trust and send my child to a foreign country for nearly three months. I feel that my child's faith has grown even more than before.

Also, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the two coordinators who worked diligently to take care of the children while they stayed in Canada.

I am thankful to the director of the Homeschool Support Centre and missionary Hannah, who always work hard for the homeschooling families in Korea.

Lastly, I thank God for planning and guiding every step of this journey, even before we set off.

(Translated from Korean)

February 14, 2025