Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I loved every moment of this experience Past Review

By (Washington State University) - abroad from 05/30/2018 to 07/13/2018 with

IES Abroad: Tokyo - Tokyo Summer

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned better time management and learned how to better appreciate people's differences. I was very eye opening and I think it truly made me a better person.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I placed into a class that was slightly review for me. I felt that while the class was not hard it provided a lot of cultural context I would not have received otherwise.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration was amazing.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The dorm was nice but slightly restricting since in the US I lived in my own apartment. I had forgotten about common area rules that often occur in dorms.

* Food:

On my program food was only provided on some field trips. However, we received vouchers for the cafes on campus. There are also lots of restaurants near the dorm. There are several places to buy food on campus that we did not get vouchers for.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

By the end on my trip I felt like I knew the surrounding area very well. I also got very comfortable on public transportation.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not need to use the healthcare system while aboard.

* Safety:

I felt very safe while abroad. The program administration made sure to keep us informed on any areas that could potentially be dangerous and when possible safety issues arose.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I loved all the different field trips that the program provided for us. The only thing I would change is I wish that I could have stayed longer.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

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

I was bad at budgeting in the beginning because everything was a lot cheaper in Japan. I would justify my poor spending choices that way. It was easier for other people in my program to stick to their budgets.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

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

The program really encouraged us to make friends in Japan and to practice our language skills.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 200
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Location
  • People
  • Activities provided
* What could be improved?
  • Could be longer
  • offer more trips further south
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had been given a list of things to do the first week in the area.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.