Fall in Kyoto Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

KCJS prides itself on its academic rigor, and indeed it is a very demanding program. The workload is onerous, especially for the Japanese language classes, often leaves students with little free time to explore the city. In my experience, though my language instructor was open to hearing constructive criticism from students she was often unwilling to change her curriculum or schedule which was frustrating at times. The supplementary English courses are, in general, far less structured and demanding than any course taught at Wellesley.

On-site administration of your program

The staff was very warm, accommodating, and eager to make sure that students had the best experience possible. Sometimes they could be a little overeager to help, which could make things awkward. There were a few incidents where they would call host families unnecessarily when they thought there was a miscommunication with students. Though they are always eager to help, sometimes they didn't follow through. For instance, I had hoped to find out more about some of my ancestors who were connected to Doshisha and while the staff seemed very keen to help and despite multiple requests they did not so much as provide me the name of a person to contact. Other students had similar experiences as well.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The program generally does a good job of matching students with host families and accommodating students who wish to have a more independent lifestyle by offering apartment and share-house accommodations. I lived in the latter for the duration of the program and while the facilities might leave something to be desired, the proprietors, an elderly couple who have hosted foreign students for decades, were exceedingly warm and inviting people who made me feel right at home.

KCJS gives students a lunch allowance of 800 yen (about 8 dollars) for everyday of the program. Host families provide the other two meals and for students living in apartments these meals are self-catered. There are a couple of restaurants around Doshisha which are friendly to the student budget in addition to the cafeteria. I did not have difficulty procuring food at all though one has to keep in mind that dietary staples in Japan are much different from in the US so finding familiar food can be a challenge.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There are plenty of opportunities to interact with Japanese students but the workload and busy schedule that comes with KCJS was often inhibiting. In addition, it can be very difficult to join on campus groups other than those dedicated to "cultural exchange" because the American and Japanese school calendars are different and not all student organizations are eager to have foreign members. KCJS also has a Community Involvement Project in which students find an activity or organization in which they want to participate such as English teaching in local schools or archery lessons to name a few. While an invaluable experience, these projects were often time-consuming and not very rewarding as it proved difficult to integrate.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

KCJS helps students sign up for the national health insurance plan. Though I did not have any experience with this system, friends who did need to see a doctor during they stay seemed very pleased. Because health care is socialized in Japan, doctor's fees are much more affordable than in the US.

Kyoto, and most of Japan in general, is extremely safe. I never felt scared when walking home at night. As with anywhere though it is important to remain aware of your surroundings at all time and exercise good judgement.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Transportation is very easy and affordable in Kyoto. While it is relatively easy to find cheap food, eating out is very expensive and adds up quickly. Books and other school items are comparable to that in the US.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

There is a "No-English" rule in the building where classes are held but after the first week, none of the students adhered to the rule. The program also facilitates a language-partner exchange for American and Japanese students to practice their Japanese/English.

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• Other

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• Host Family
• Other

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• Americans

• Location
• Housing
• Staff

• Actually giving students free time to pursue other opportunities in Japan
• Cultural exchange programs
• Language and supplemental courses

The Avid Adventurer