Rules of Conduct & Packing List
Rules of Conduct When in Japan
Always wear socks… NO bare feet at school. They are OK at homes, but check with your family. If your homestay family provides slippers, please use them.
Never blow your nose in public, even at home. Go to the bathroom or bedroom. If you must blow your nose in public, be discreet and turn your head away from others.
NO personal grooming (hair brush, etc.) at school or in public.
No sleeveless or low cut tops while in Japan. No short shorts or skirts; bottoms must clear your fingertips by at least 2 inches. Japanese culture is very modest.
No eating in shrines or other religious places.
Students: NO jewelry (earrings, bracelets, necklaces), colored nail polish, dyed hair, or makeup in Kanayama during school time or scheduled activities.
Shoes and hats off in all buildings including homestay houses.
Make sure your unifrom shirt is visible while out with your group. This allows for chaperones to easily spot you.
Follow the dress code at all times. Even on your family time and with your homestays.
No gum, candy, chips, pop, snacks etc. in school or while walking around town. Japanese students are not allowed to snack. Snacks bought on walking/bus trips are usually eaten at the place you bought them. People usually stand or sit to eat, and do not eat or drink while walking. Water bottles may be OK in the Kanayama/Gero room only.
No jaywalking. Use the crosswalks and sidewalks for your safety. Follow the traffic signals at all times.
No giggling, pointing, eye-rolling, grimacing, etc. at Japanese language sounds, foods, people, or customs. Practice respectful being.
Treat your fellow students with respect: no name-calling, talking about one another in a negative way, or insults. Do the same with all the Japanese people you meet.
NO computers or gaming devices on the trip. Cellphones & iPads are OK for music, camera, games ONLY while traveling or on your peronal down time. Phone calls, texting,and scrolling are highly DISCOURAGED and should not be done while with your group or homestays. Phones should be put away during the day and not used. Phones may only be used to take pictures and then promptly put away. Use of phones is to only be done in students down time at the end of the day, not while out with the exchange program.
Use the buddy system when left on your own for shopping, etc. Look around you and find a landmark to orient yourself in unfamiliar surroundings. Never leave a fellow student alone if you see then alone invite them into your group. We don’t want you getting lost. If you are put into a group, stay in that group, and participate with your group. Always be sure to carry your host family and youth hostel/hotel telephone numbers with you.
BE ON TIME to school, at hostels for meal times, or meeting the bus for departure. In fact, be a little early, just in case. This is polite in Japan
If you find that you're bored, at least pretend to be engaged and attentive. Put a smile on your face while listening, be engaged.m This is polite, and having good manners
No complaining out loud. If it is important, tell someone quietly and privately.
Sit up straight, especially at school assemblies and when eating with others. If your Ketchikan friend next to you is slumping, elbow them gently to remind them to sit up again. Do not talk while others are speaking.
When speaking in public (such as at schools and at parties), please stand with both feet planted firmly on the floor. Do not cross your legs. Face forward, don't rotate back and forth. You can keep your hands still by holding them in front of you, or behind you.
Please be friendly in all the places you go. Engage with the Japanese students while at each school. Make an effort to seperate yourself from your fellow Ketchikan Exchange students. This will allow you to really get to know the Japanse students while at their schools.
Chaperones: treat all students and parents with respect. Do the same with the Japanese people you meet.
Chaperones are to take the lead, and direct the group. Communicate with Tony or other officials about schedule changes first, then tell your group. One chaperone can also take the lead (along with Tony or another Japanese leader) when walking places. If you like, chaperones can take turns having this role of leadership. Be sure to meet daily to discuss what went well, any problems that arise, the schedule for the next day, reminders for students etc... Have daily meetings with the students to go over the same things.
Always wear socks… NO bare feet at school. They are OK at homes, but check with your family. If your homestay family provides slippers, please use them.
Never blow your nose in public, even at home. Go to the bathroom or bedroom. If you must blow your nose in public, be discreet and turn your head away from others.
NO personal grooming (hair brush, etc.) at school or in public.
No sleeveless or low cut tops while in Japan. No short shorts or skirts; bottoms must clear your fingertips by at least 2 inches. Japanese culture is very modest.
No eating in shrines or other religious places.
Students: NO jewelry (earrings, bracelets, necklaces), colored nail polish, dyed hair, or makeup in Kanayama during school time or scheduled activities.
Shoes and hats off in all buildings including homestay houses.
Make sure your unifrom shirt is visible while out with your group. This allows for chaperones to easily spot you.
Follow the dress code at all times. Even on your family time and with your homestays.
No gum, candy, chips, pop, snacks etc. in school or while walking around town. Japanese students are not allowed to snack. Snacks bought on walking/bus trips are usually eaten at the place you bought them. People usually stand or sit to eat, and do not eat or drink while walking. Water bottles may be OK in the Kanayama/Gero room only.
No jaywalking. Use the crosswalks and sidewalks for your safety. Follow the traffic signals at all times.
No giggling, pointing, eye-rolling, grimacing, etc. at Japanese language sounds, foods, people, or customs. Practice respectful being.
Treat your fellow students with respect: no name-calling, talking about one another in a negative way, or insults. Do the same with all the Japanese people you meet.
NO computers or gaming devices on the trip. Cellphones & iPads are OK for music, camera, games ONLY while traveling or on your peronal down time. Phone calls, texting,and scrolling are highly DISCOURAGED and should not be done while with your group or homestays. Phones should be put away during the day and not used. Phones may only be used to take pictures and then promptly put away. Use of phones is to only be done in students down time at the end of the day, not while out with the exchange program.
Use the buddy system when left on your own for shopping, etc. Look around you and find a landmark to orient yourself in unfamiliar surroundings. Never leave a fellow student alone if you see then alone invite them into your group. We don’t want you getting lost. If you are put into a group, stay in that group, and participate with your group. Always be sure to carry your host family and youth hostel/hotel telephone numbers with you.
BE ON TIME to school, at hostels for meal times, or meeting the bus for departure. In fact, be a little early, just in case. This is polite in Japan
If you find that you're bored, at least pretend to be engaged and attentive. Put a smile on your face while listening, be engaged.m This is polite, and having good manners
No complaining out loud. If it is important, tell someone quietly and privately.
Sit up straight, especially at school assemblies and when eating with others. If your Ketchikan friend next to you is slumping, elbow them gently to remind them to sit up again. Do not talk while others are speaking.
When speaking in public (such as at schools and at parties), please stand with both feet planted firmly on the floor. Do not cross your legs. Face forward, don't rotate back and forth. You can keep your hands still by holding them in front of you, or behind you.
Please be friendly in all the places you go. Engage with the Japanese students while at each school. Make an effort to seperate yourself from your fellow Ketchikan Exchange students. This will allow you to really get to know the Japanse students while at their schools.
Chaperones: treat all students and parents with respect. Do the same with the Japanese people you meet.
Chaperones are to take the lead, and direct the group. Communicate with Tony or other officials about schedule changes first, then tell your group. One chaperone can also take the lead (along with Tony or another Japanese leader) when walking places. If you like, chaperones can take turns having this role of leadership. Be sure to meet daily to discuss what went well, any problems that arise, the schedule for the next day, reminders for students etc... Have daily meetings with the students to go over the same things.
