One does not simply walk into MORIOKA Past Review
By Mathieu G (Chemistry Japanese, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 10/27/2011 to 08/22/2012 with
Iwate University: Morioka - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
It's really changed my outlook on life to a more positive one. I've met and talked to people from countries I would never have been able to in the US. And even if I could, they would probably be in a much different mindset. Meeting people from other countries in a neutral place is a great way to see all the cultural differences. It was worthwile, I don't want to leave Morioka. It's now my city of adoption.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Not great, but oh so cheap! |
| * Food: |
Not a fan of seafood and I love noodles. Morioka is inland and has its "3 great noodles" Great for me! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
People are very reserved here, but act accordingly and things work out! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The most dangerous thing in the city is deciding to ride a bike on the frozen roads in the winter. And that's up to you. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
The rent is at most 100 dollars a month, you just have to add gas in the winter. Cheap food all around, plus a produce market every saturday for cheaper vegetables than in the grocery store. No need to buy metro/bus tickets since bikes were provided at the dorm. I'm probably paying a third of the price my friend has to pay for studying abroad in Tokyo. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | No |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | ~50$ I tend to splurge on food and save on other things ._. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Use you bike all the time. Cook your own food. Eat Japanese. If you want to have a western diet here, it will be way too expensive (1$ for a tomato, no thanks). |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Language program! |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 5th semester japanese |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | 1. Go to a smaller city, with few English speakers. This will force you to use the language. 2. Make friends with people from other countries, who cannot speak English (hard to find though) 3. Get used to speaking in the language with the people around you. If you start speaking english with people around you, it will feel weird to suddenly switch in Japanese in the middle of the year, once you feel more confident. Practice is good with anyone, native or not. 4. Get involved. Go sightseeing. Ask people random questions. Make friends who have nothing in common with you. Get out there! 5. THINK IN THE LANGUAGE. This is probably the best tip I could give. Too many people try to translate in their head. IT slows you down way too much, and ends up sounding very unnatural. Thinking in the language when you want to speak it will make it come out fluently, the conversation will be more natural, and as a result you can connect better with the people you meet. It's hard enough with the outsider syndrome in Japan, being able to speak faster and more naturally will help with integration! TLDR: say the first thing that comes out of your mouth in the language to everyone, everywhere, in a smaller city. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | More Japanese |
