Hina Yamamoto, left, is a homestay student with the Campbells. She's became a daughter to Sasha and Andrew and a sister to Liam and Rylie. (Photo Courtesy Ross Lavigne)

By Chris Brown

From Shizuoka, Japan to Redcliff, Alberta

Lifelong bonds and a series of firsts created by Homestay for Students program

Nov 26, 2021 | 4:44 PM

REDCLIFF, AB – When Sasha Campbell was little her family hosted international students. They became sisters and 24 years later still talk every week.

Sasha and her husband Andrew wanted to give their children a similar lifelong bond and through the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education’s homestay program, welcomed Hina Yamamoto into their home last spring.

“Every day’s experience for me and I’m really enjoying it here,” says Hina.

Hina has been living in Redcliff with the Campbells since April. The experience has been more rewarding than the family could have hoped for.

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“Hina’s become like one of our daughters and we will really miss her when she goes home,” says Sasha. “My son (Liam) says that she’s not allowed to go home for 4,000 years.”

Mid-interview, two-year-old Rylie climbs on the couch next to her big sister Hina, trying to make the most of the two months they have left together. Hina will be going back to Shizuoka, Japan at the end of January.

Sasha knew what she was getting into hosting a student, and had a good idea how Rylie and seven-year-old Liam would handle it.

Andrew had some nerves but says it’s been quite a ride teaching her about their lives and life in Canada.

“Teaching her how to skate and how to do things we do here in Canada,” he says. “We haven’t been skiing with her yet but we went camping we’ve done so many different things.”

He lists street hockey, rollerblading, basketball and mountain biking as some of the experiences they’ve shared as they teach Hina about their lives.

They’ve done everything from working on a farm and going bungee jumping. There have also been family trips to Banff National Park, Vancouver and Mexico.

All were first-time experiences for Hina, as was Halloween. She dressed as Jasmine from Aladdin as part of a family-themed costume and went trick-or-treating for the first time.

“First I was scared to knock on the door because they are strangers for me,” she says. “But I got used to it and I got many candies and I like Halloween. I still have many candies downstairs.”

“I’m going to keep in touch with them forever and they will come to Japan someday and I’m going to come back here.”

Next up is her first Canadian Christmas.

“She’s never experienced a Christmas before so we’re really just putting all our energy into making sure her Christmas is unbelievable,” says Sasha.

Hina is looking forward to Christmas baking and gingerbread houses, something she’s known about since she was young but has never had the chance to make.

She’s also thinking about her wish list.

“They say I can get anything I like so I’m watching Amazon on my phone and I’m thinking of what I want to have for Christmas,” she says.

They all try not to think about when Hina will go back home at the end of January.

Sasha says what they are thinking about is a trip to Japan and that Hina will always have a home with them.

And Hina says the connection will last a lifetime.

“I’m going to keep in touch with them forever and they will come to Japan someday and I’m going to come back here,” she says.