I Talk You Talk Press - A Homestay in Auckland

Level 1 - A1/A2 Starter (1) Graded Reader from I Talk You Talk Press

A Homestay in Auckland

Copyright 2014 by I Talk You Talk Press

ISBN: 978-4-907056-32-2

Publisher: I Talk You Talk Press

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The words in bold are useful homestay phrases.

You might hear these phrases, and you can use some of these phrases when you go on a homestay.

Erina Adachi is a university student from Nagoya. She is nineteen years old. She studies English at university.

It is August. Erina is going on a homestay next week. She is going to New Zealand. She is going to stay with a host family in Auckland for two weeks. She is going to study at a language school in the city. Then, she is going to travel for four days. She is going to Queenstown.

Erina is excited. This morning, the homestay company sent her information about her host family. She reads the information. There is an email address.

I will send an email, thinks Erina. It is good manners to send a mail or a letter to the host family before the homestay.

She goes to her desk, and switches on her computer. She opens a new email, types in the host familys email address, and writes an email.

---Dear Mr and Mrs Williams, and Joanne,

My name is Erina Adachi. I will be staying with you for two weeks. I will arrive next Sunday.

It's my first time to leave Japan, and I'm very excited, but a little nervous.

I'd like to tell you a little about myself. I am 19 years old, and I live in Nagoya. I am a university student. I study English at university. There are 4 people in my family - my father, mother, younger brother and me. In my free time, I enjoy running. Last year, I ran my first marathon. I also like reading and listening to music.

How is the weather in Auckland now? Do I need to bring warm clothes? In Nagoya, it is summer, so it is very hot. I'm looking forward to meeting you next week.

From Erina Adachi.--

The next day, Erina got this reply from the Williams family.

---Dear Erina,

Thank you very much for your email. We hope you will have a wonderful time in New Zealand.

It is cool in August in Auckland. The daytime temperature is about 15 degrees, so you will need to bring some warm clothes.

Our daughter, Joanne, is very interested in Japan. She is studying Japanese. She is looking forward to talking to you. She will ask you many questions about Japan and Japanese culture!

We will meet you at the airport on Sunday. We will wait for you near the exit. We are looking forward to meeting you! Have a pleasant flight to NZ.

From Kath, Ted and Joanne Williams--

Erina reads the email again. Joanne likes Japanese culture, she thinks. I hope I can answer all of her questions in English!

The flight to Auckland from Narita is long. It takes about eleven hours.

Erina is sitting next to the window. The aeroplane is landing. She is very excited.

The flight attendant makes an announcement. She says, Welcome to Auckland. The local time is 8:15 am.

Erina looks at her watch. It says 5:15 am. She is surprised. Then she remembers. There is a time difference between New Zealand and Japan. I must change my watch!

Erina gets off the plane and goes through immigration. Then she picks up her suitcase and waits in the line for customs and agriculture. Finally everything is finished, and she goes out into the arrivals hall.

Where are Mr and Mrs Williams? she thinks. She looks around. There are so many people!

Then she sees a man and a woman. The man is holding a large piece of paper. On the paper it says, Erina Adachi.

Erina walks over to them.

Excuse me, are you Mr and Mrs Williams? she asks.

Yes. Are you Erina? asks Mrs Williams.

Yes!

Welcome to New Zealand! says Mrs Williams. They shake hands. Please call me Kath.

And please call me Ted, says Mr Williams.

Thank you, says Erina.

Ted takes Erina's suitcase. They walk out of the airport.

How was your flight? asks Kath.

It was fine, thank you, says Erina.

Are you tired? asks Kath.

A little, says Erina. I slept on the plane.

They get into the car. Ted drives the car along a wide road. Erina looks out of the window. She sees some sheep.

Do you have sheep in Japan? asks Kath.

Yes, we do, but not so many, says Erina.

After about 25 minutes, they arrive at the Williams house. It is very big with a large garden.

Ted parks the car in the driveway. He takes Erinas suitcase out of the car.

Joanne is very excited. She is waiting to meet you, says Kath.

Ted carries Erinas suitcase into the house.

Should I take my shoes off? asks Erina.

We dont usually wear shoes in the house, but please yourself.

In Japan we take our shoes off, so I will do the same here! says Erina.

Joanne is waiting.

Hi, Erina, I'm Joanne. Konnichiwa! says Joanne.

Nice to meet you, says Erina. And you speak Japanese!

Yes. A little. I want to speak Japanese with you, says Joanne.

Let's practise later! says Erina laughing. How old are you?

Im sixteen, says Joanne. How old are you?

Im nineteen, says Erina.

They walk into the living room.

Erina looks around the room. It is very large. There is a large sofa and two armchairs. There is a coffee table in the centre of the room and there is a large TV in the corner.

You have a very nice house. It is very different from houses in Japan.

Oh really? says Kath. What is your house like?

My family lives in an apartment. It is on the tenth floor, so we have a nice view of Nagoya. I have some photographs. Would you like to see them? I'll show them to you later.

Thank you. We would love to see your photographs, says Ted.

Erina, would you like something to drink? asks Kath.

Yes, please. That would be very nice.

We have coffee, tea, orange juice, mineral water, or herb tea. What would you like?

Could I have a cup of tea, please? But first, could I use the bathroom?

Yes, of course.