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Live and learn in the multicultural city of Vancouver

I’m sure that there are many people out there whose thoughts go wild thinking about a homestay experience in Canada. What kind of place will they call home? What will their host family be like?

The place we will show you today in Vancouver is a little bit different than what one would expect. The reason for this is because this particular homestay, although located in another country, is run by a Japanese host mother.

The host mother, Ms. Yumiko, is a gentle woman from Kyoto with a lot of overseas experience. Since leaving Japan she has lived in many different places, including Sri Lanka, Uganda and Canada over a period of roughly 35 years. She always has a story to tell, ranging from topics about the former dictatorship in Uganda, Sri Lanka, where it is hot but surprisingly full of international character and easy to get your hands on anything you could possibly need, and the life she has created for herself in Vancouver. The food she makes is also multinational. With meals such as diverse Sri Lankan curries and delicious Japanese delicacies, you can really get a feel for the multiculturalism of Canada.

What’s more, Yumiko’s house, located between the cities of Vancouver and Burnaby, is surrounded by nature. With a walking trail through virgin forest behind the house, and Fraser River, a great spot to watch the sunset, a short walk away, there really is an abundance of natural beauty. If you are lucky enough to experience living here in summer, enveloped in luscious greenery, you will surely make many great memories in this house.

Without further ado, let’s take a peek inside!

「Yumiko Homestay」House Details Page

   
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Visitors are welcomed by lush greenery and well maintained gardens

During summer the house seems to be almost buried by the greenery of its natural surroundings. Canada wouldn’t be Canada without its nature.

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Apple trees and strawberries grow in the backyard, as well as a small herb garden.

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Trees and flowers in front of the house grow and blossom naturally without any specific care.

 
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A large window brings in natural light from outside, creating a bright, spacious living room

The dining table and sofa. It is also possible to watch Japanese television shows in this comfortable living room.

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A little bit of a fancy Sunday brunch.

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A dish from one of the home parties. The host mother loves cooking, and you’ll feel right at home with something always cooking away on the stove.

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A potluck home party.

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There is yoga class on Sunday mornings. Yumiko teaches authentic yoga learned from her time in Sri Lanka to residents for free.

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Ms. Yumiko (left) with her Canadian-Filipino friend.

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To the right of the entrance is a room for parties and entertaining.

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The front hallway.

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A hallway. The interior layout of the house is quite unique.

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The laundry room on the 1st floor has a washing machine and dryer.。

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The 2nd floor bathroom. It’s common in Canada for bathrooms to house a toilet and shower in the same room.

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This is the sink in the 2nd floor bathroom. There are conveniently 3 bathrooms in the house.

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Diverse rooms symbolize Canadian culture

This is Room 4 on the 2nd floor. It’s the biggest room in the house and also has a balcony.

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Room 1 comes with a comfortable queen-sized mattress.

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Room 2 is home to the host mother’s son’s muscle training apparatus.

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Room 4 is a bright room with a large window.

 

What really makes this house a great homestay, however, is Ms. Yumiko and her friendly warmth.

Yumiko is experienced in the ways of the world and there are no particular rules in her home, and as long as you use common sense about things like cleaning up after yourself and keep the noise level down late at night, you are free to do as you please. Make the most of the Vancouver lifestyle without being too much of a burden on the others in the house.

Come and experience your own original exchange student lifestyle in this unique homestay environment.

/Author: Takahashi