grant for "Outstanding learners of Japanese"

Hello,

I have been lucky to win a 2-week stay in Japan, Osaka for "outstanding
students of Japanese", sponsored by the Japan Foundation. Has anyone in
this group received such a grant in previous years? If yes, could you
please share some of your experiences? The official papers and
materials I have received from Japan are informative, but only in a
general sense, e.g. the program is limited to expressions like "2-day
homestay", "Osaka sightseeing", "lectures", etc.

What lectures are they? What does the homestay involve (is it actually
just "staying at home", or are there any activities planned with the
Japanese hosts)? How much free time to simply walk arour the streets of
Osaka by myself will I have? Since this is going to be my first stay in
Japan, I would like to plan for these two weeks as efficicently as
possible -- hence all these questions.

BTW. What would you consider an appropriate gift for a Japanese family
with whom I will be staying for 2 days and of whom I know nothing at
all?

Thank you in advance for all hands-on experience reports; any tips much
appreciated, too!

Adam

PS. I do not consider myself an "outstanding student of Japanese"; the
exam was comparable to 3 Kyuu JLPT, so a "pre-intermediate student"
would be more appropriate. I think I was just lucky to score best in my
country.

.

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