After deciding to study abroad and experience the American way of life, the first thing to consider is where you live. For those who are visiting from Japan for the first time, it is recommended to travel to the US after deciding on a residence. Types include:
Homestay is a way to live locally in an American residential home and to have the opportunity to communicate in English with the residents. It also has the advantage of providing a direct experience of American culture in private homes. The homestay setup often comes with the convenience of not needing to cook meals (usually provided in the morning and evening), because these tend to be included in the price.
Homestay is a great way to learn English while acquiring a taste of the local culture. While coming abroad to study and living alone in a new country may be difficult at first for young students, homestay can provide a way to ease the transition.
If you don’t mind living with a roommate, an option is to share a room or house. Sharing a room is when two people literally share one room. This may be an allocated room, such as in a dormitory, or the room may be located in an apartment or a house. There are limitations to sharing a private room, but it has the advantage of a lower cost.
Sharing a house involves two or more people renting an apartment or house and sharing the overall payment. Though the rent may vary, this situation tends to be affordable because the residents are sharing the rent. For those unfamiliar with the American concept of many people living together, this experience is a good opportunity of experiencing this aspect of American culture.
A studio is basically a one room apartment. The space includes a bedroom, a kitchen, and a bathroom. This situation is ideal for people who desire to live alone. One disadvantage is that prices for studios tend to be a bit more expensive compared to homestay or sharing, but this option does guarantee more personal space and privacy.
A dormitory is an accommodation which is provided by a school and often utilized by foreign students. This option is convenient because of the ease of moving in and the proximity to campus. It also has the advantage of providing the experience of living near an American College.
