Fell in Love with Japan - Will Definitely Be Back Soon! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses were appropriate in content, and the IES library was full of good resources to help with research. However, I felt that the Japanese class could have been more rigorous, as I felt I was a little behind when I returned to my home institution.

On-site administration of your program

The IES staff does an amazing job of getting to know and supporting each and every student in the program. They have a wide breadth of knowledge and are willing to give advice on living in Japan, acclimating to your new life, and places to travel.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I felt that my homestay was a good fit for my personality. I was able to have enough individuality and freedom while having the comfort of a family and learning more about daily Japanese life.

The food in Japan is absolutely amazing. I would highly recommend trying as many new foods as possible, especially if you travel since each of Japan's regions has it's own specialities. The food on campus is also reasonably priced and there are many options to choose from.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very immersed in the local culture. I became friends with a number of Japanese students, lived in a homestay, and participated in the field placement program, which allowed me to experience the Japanese workplace. There were ample opportunities to immerse myself in Japanese culture, both organized through IES and from personal exploration.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Health insurance in Japan can be tricky to navigate but IES makes sure that you are able to take all the necessary steps for application through the e-pal program. I didn't need any new vaccinations for my program.

Tokyo is the safest city I have ever visited. I felt completely comfortable walking by myself at night, and never felt unsafe at any point during my stay.

My study abroad experience went above and beyond what I thought it could be. Everyone was so welcoming, and though there are some small areas that didn't suit my personal needs, I couldn't have asked for a better program.

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

Living on a budget in Tokyo is manageable, but there are many temptations for spending extra, especially if you go into study abroad with the sentimentality that "I'll only have this one opportunity in my lifetime to do this." Though I would imagine that it would be a similar case for most other study abroad locations.

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

We were encouraged to use Japanese, but all IES sponsored trips and programs were held in English, or were translated for us.

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• IES Sponsored trips - allowed students to visit other parts of Japan for much cheaper than it would cost them to plan it alone
• E-pal program - IES pairs each student with a local Japanese student at Kanda University (helps to make life long friends!)
• Location - Tokyo is a fantastic city that appeals to many different people with diverse interests

• Field Placement program - helps students learn about the Japanese workplace but was not as productive as I thought it would be
• Japanese Language - a little more intensive at Level 1 to help learn more quickly
• Student council - planned activities did not always appeal to all of the members of the group, felt there could have been a better way to poll for interesting activities

The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer