By Ethan Zhang ’26
On January 8, the dining hall tables were surrounded by not only students enjoying their meals but also information about the Toin International Exchange Student Program (TIES). Mr. Norikazu Okuyama and International Coordinator Mr. Michael Cooke, from the Japanese private school Toin Gakuen, provided students with information about a potential opportunity for students to spend their summer abroad.
While arts and athletic activities may prevent Choate students interested in a term abroad from studying internationally, the TIES Program offers a summertime opportunity for students to go abroad without interfering with other commitments.
In the program, students attend Toin Gakuen, a private institution in Yokohama, Japan, from mid-June to early July. During their three-week stay, they live with a local host family and are paired with a student-host sibling of similar age.
TIES Program students are immersed in the normal schedule of a Toin Gakuen student to ensure that they get the best experience while living in an unfamiliar environment. To help with integrating into Japanese school life, students are guided by their host siblings and form close bonds with them as they attend school together.
“You won’t find another homestay program in Japan where your homestay family is your host sibling and a student who will go to school with you daily,” Mr. Cooke said.
A typical day in the TIES Program consists of a two-hour Japanese lesson, exchange student activities, and cultural experiences such as Kyudo Archery, Shorinji Kempo (a Japanese martial art), and Koto Harp lessons. Free periods and meal times are also sprinkled throughout the day.
After school and on weekends, students embark on domestic excursions to Kyoto, Nara, and Tokyo, as well as several cultural monuments. “We encourage students to immerse themselves in the local culture,” Mr. Cooke explained. “You have to have an open mind and maybe do things you don’t want to do.”
Last summer marked the revival of the TIES Program after a brief hiatus during the Covid-19 pandemic. Jacqueline Yan ’24 was the only Choate student who applied and attended.
Reflecting on her experience, she said, “I’m so grateful for my host family and the program coordinators. I gained so much from my time there — I learnt the basics of the Japanese language, enjoyed delicious food, experienced traditional Japanese schooling, and made tons of amazing friends and memories.”
The homestay aspect of the program was particularly rewarding for her. “From my host family, I learnt about the culture of itadakimasu. In Japan, it is customary to say “itadakimasu” before a meal and “goshisousama deshita” after to express their gratitude for receiving the food,” she shared. “I loved the simplicity and expression of the act.”
Even after students depart from Japan, the impact of the TIES Program does not end. Having been a host sibling himself, Mr. Okuyama said he still keeps in touch with the visitor he hosted 30 years ago.
Mr. Cooke also highlighted the program’s ability to have both an educational and emotional impact on its participants. “It’s bittersweet because you have all the students departing from their host families; everybody’s crying,” he said. “But it’s rewarding for me to know that I’m doing something so valuable as an experience for these kids.”
