TANUKI HOUSE: UK HOMESTAY

Photos

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Harumi, Yosuke and Taiyo's visit, August 2004

Harumi, Yosuke (11) and Taiyo (7) visited for a week in late August 2004. They visited the Thinktank science museum in Birmingham city centre, Warwick Castle, Cadbury World, Earlswood Maize Maze (a giant maze made out of a field of sweetcorn being grown for animal feed) and craft centre, and Umberslade Children's Farm. No photos available, unfortunately!

Mizumi's visit, July/August 2004

Feeding the swans, and picking blackberries.	In Stratford (Shakespeare's birthplace) and Henley-in-Arden.	Around Hatton, near Warwick.
At Warwick Castle.	At Sarehole Mill, and catching the number 4 bus into Birmingham city centre.	A Sunday morning car boot sale, and a trip to Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds.
At home: UK jigsaw puzzle (to learn the counties) and helping with the gardening.	At Packwood House.

Kuniko's visit, April 2004

At Warwick Castle.	Meals.	At Baddesley Clinton and Packwood House (National Trust properties).
In Birmingham city centre.	Riding lesson.

Shigeru and Miyoko's visit, August 2003

Shigeru and Miyoko at Packwood House and Barston village fete.	Blakesley Hall.	Sarehole Mill.
Warwick Castle: on the ramparts, and with the Fighting Knights.	A couple of dinners: shepherd's pie at home, and a meal out at a local balti (curry) restaurant.	An afternoon's horse riding.

Saori's visit, March 2003

Shrove Tuesday pancake party at Tanuki House.	At Warwick Castle: Saori with Stanley the butler (a waxwork), and feeding the peacocks.	A game of Scrabble, and Saori in Birmingham city centre.

Natsuko's visit, February 2003

At the Sea Life Centre in Birmingham.	At Warwick Castle: Natsuko in the stocks, and a peacock displaying its tail feathers.	Feeding the geese, ducks and swans: in Stratford, and at the former millpond near Tanuki House.
At Stratford Butterfly Farm. There were lots of creepy-crawlies there too!	At the 170-year-old Botanical Gardens in Birmingham.	At the end of a country walk around Hatton Locks, and learning to dance Ceroc.

Fuzuki, Rae and Akiko, August 2002

In the garden at Nash's Place, Stratford.	At Packwood house.	Visiting Blakesley Hall.
Warwick Castle: lunch in the rose garden, and up on the ramparts. The second picture was taken on the top of the tower (Guy's Tower) that you can see in the background of the first picture.

Yoshie's visit, July 2002

In Stratford: outside Shakespeare's Birthplace, and in a rowing boat on the River Avon.	A picnic lunch in Broadway, the Cotswolds.	Placing a bet at the greyhound races, July 2002. Now that's something you wouldn't get to do on an ordinary package holiday!
At Warwick Castle: trying on a helmet in the armoury, and feeding the ducks.	In Birmingham city centre: in front of the Council House, and a trip on a narrowboat.

Testimonials

August 2004
Harumi (translated from Japanese)
We spent five very full days here. Here I learned things like English lessons and cooking that I think will be very useful for the long time we are going to spend in the UK.
Thank you very much!
[The family had recently relocated to the UK and they expect to stay for about four years.]

Yosuke (age 11) (translated from Japanese)
Thank you very much!
It was only five days but it was fun. The best thing was Warwick Castle, so if we have friends to visit from Japan, I think I'd like to go there again.

Taiyo (age 7) (translated from Japanese)
For five days you've done lots of things with us. Thank you for these five days!

July-August 2004
Miyoko
I stayed for 12 days. In spite of my long stay and tight schedule, you have always been kind and nice to me. Thank you very much. since I looked into Tanuki House, you have kept caring about me - about working holidays, hotels in the Lake District, the transport from Heathrow to Birmingham, and so on - you have been a perfect adviser for me. Thank you.
.Also I enjoyed your English lessons every day. You told me many sotries according to my interests and questions. Those were very interesting - especially the one about buying a house and the mortgage. Of course I've learned how to read recipes for cooking, some grammar like 1st/2nd/3rd conditional. I'll keep studying English. This experience will be my big motivation for the next step.
And thank you for all the driving to the places where we've been to. You've told me how to walk and look around efficiently and given me the right explanations in easy English. Actually my favourite place is Baddesley Clinton because they have the relaxing gardens and path around the lake and the whole house is almost the same as it used to be (I suppose). And the biggest reason is because you explained to me, asked some questions to the room stewards, chatted with them and I could enjoy it, too.
My second favourite is walking Hatton Locks footpath with you, Craig and Nathan. It was really nice and enjoyable walking for me, and so was the picnic we had.
I can't tell everything here but I really appreciate all the things you've done for me. Maybe some day, I'll be back here again. (Also I'll join a National Trust working holiday!)
Thank you for everything! (Your tailor-made trip for me!)

April 2004
Kuniko (translated from Japanese)
Europe is really magnificent. It's 10 years since my last visit but it feels like no time at all. You see 100-year-old things everywhere. Japan's castles are good too, but the stone remains you see here are great. In Birmingham city centre people from all over the world live in their own cultures, and it works well.

August 2003
Shigeru
We stayed at Tanuki House for seven days. We enjoyed the stay very much.
...
Some friends of ours might say only seven days would be too short to learn English. It may be true. But we should learn English constantly and for good. We can enjoy studying English even in Japan from the radio, or the TV.
We can use English occasionally for instance while travelling abroad, even though we don't have an opportunity for associating with English-speaking people in our home town.
It's great to have a chat with local people abroad. Now English has become an international common language all over the world.
During the stay we had a pleasant chat with Lynne's neighbours, friends and relatives. All were very friendly, kind and generous. We are deeply impressed with English people's cordiality.
We appreciate Lynne's industrious, kind and considerate care for us.
We would like to plan to come here at least twice a year, if possible, to check the level of our English, and enjoy life in the heart of England. And also we would like to introduce Tanuki House to our friends and encourage them to learn English for fun.
Thank you very much, Lynne. See you again.

Miyoko (translated from Japanese)
To Lynne,
You've looked after us extremely well these seven days. I hadn't spoken English since I was at junior high school.
In Japan, even if I met British, Americans, etc., I couldn't speak to them. From now on I won't be embarrassed, I'll have the courage to greet them.
I learned a lot about British domestic matters (kitchen, electricity, water) and enjoyed the quick, delicious cookery.
We were very lucky to be able to meet Lynne's wonderful boyfriend and his son, and her lovely sister, in such a short time.
Everyone was very nice and friendly, and I was extremely happy to be able to meet them. I'll keep these wonderful memories all my life.
On this visit I learned many, many important things about life in the UK. If I have the opportunity I'd like to come back.
Miyoko (age 62)

March 2003
Saori
I stayed here 6 days. It was short for me, but I really enjoyed my holiday here.
My favorite place here is Warwick Castle. There are lovely gardens, and I could see beautiful scenes from the castle.
Foods were also nice. I like cottage pie, pancakes, balti and chocolates.
My English was terrible [not true! - Lynne], so I couldn't always express what I meant. But Lynne tried to understand patiently and explain in plain English. I really appreciate your kindness!!
I'll try to study English more!!
Thank you very much.

February 2003
Natsuko
I had a wonderful time!!
I ate lamb balti on the 7th night, it was very nice. TRY IT! But most of the sweets were too sweet for me to eat all of them. Sorry :( (Chocolate was good, brown bread ice cream as well.)
I had a lesson every morning. It was interesting, I enjoyed it very much :). I learned a lot of words!!
Thank you for everything you've done for me. I hope I will be able to come to see roses in June or July (with my mam).
See ya!!

August 2002
Akiko
I had four lessons and spent five nights here. Hospitality was quite nice. I really appreciate it. I was so happy to be able to sleep 8 hours a day in a good neighborhood! In London I couldn't sleep well due to the terrible noise of cars. Every room in Tanuki House, including bathroom and toilets, was quite clean and very comfortable.
Lessons were also very nice. Thank you very much. I really enjoyed it very much. Cooking was fun and meals were fantastic. I've never eaten such a good meal in the UK!
All activities were also wonderful. Thank you very much for researching various information beforehand, for example the salsa night, driving a car for a long time, showing us around famous places.....etc. I liked the Warwick Castle best. The architecture was so great.
Lynne, I appreciate your kindness and hospitality.

Fuzuki
My favourite place during the visit was Packwood House. I liked the garden a lot... Rae seems to enjoy a lot of her English lessons, and it was a great thing to know that she's improving. I think this programme is quite unique and good for people who are trying to improve their English in a short term.

Rae (age 8) (translated from Japanese)
The food was delicious - boom boom boom! The English was fun too - boom boom boom! I want to play memory game again! I was bright and cheerful all the time - boom boom boom!

July 2002
Yoshie (translated from Japanese)
Made it on 14th July!! Tanuki House!!
Was told that I'm the first guest. Really happy!
A week of English lessons, and also sightseeing in all sorts of places. Fun cooking. It was an action-packed week. I was able to experience lots of things that you wouldn't get on a package holiday. One week was too short!
Had the opportunity to discover interesting aspects of the UK outside London. I'll have a lot of great memories.
I would love to come back another time. (And I'll have made good progress in my English by then...)
Thank you Lynne!! I love Tanuki House!

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