Though our stay only lasted six days, the mood at Kyoto Station was quite somber as we parted from our host families. Hugs and gifts were exchanged, as well as heartfelt good-byes delivered in broken English and Japanese. Upon arrival, I remember worrying about what I could possibly talk to my host family about- as I considered my limited Japanese abilities. I stuttered through the basics, my age, my grade, some likes and dislikes, always concerned about an end to the conversation topics. What I expected was a stereo-typically formal Japanese family, one stern and stiff, but what I soon realized that this was more than just an unusual boarding option, but rather that I was becoming part of the family for a week. I spent the week constantly laughing, but by the end I was sobbing.